PENAMPANG: The last day today of the month-long Kaamatan Harvest Festival is being celebrated with much joy in Sabah, with the various ethnic communities engaging in their cultural performances.
More than 5,000 people, among them foreign tourists, gathered at the cultural centre of the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) early today.
The event began with the symbolic harvesting of paddy by the Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, accompanied by the chairman of the Kaamatan Celebration Committee, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who represented Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
Juhar declared the Kaamatan festival closed by beating a gong seven times, after which he toured an exhibition comprising stalls and traditional houses outside the hall.
Also present were Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister and chairman of the Implementation and Coordination Committee Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin and other Sabah federal and state cabinet ministers.
Visitors were entertained to cultural dances of the various ethnic communities in Sabah, such as the Kadazandusun, Murut, Tatana and Rungus, as well as performances by the dance troupe from Sekolah Kebangsaan Kiawayan, Tambunan.
The highlight will be the ‘Unduk Ngadau’ or beauty queen contest which attracted 40 participants from all over the state.
Toh Puan Norlidah RM Jasni, wife of the Yang Dipertua Negeri, will crown the ‘Unduk Ngadau’, later this evening, signifying the end of the Kaamatan Festival which carried the theme of “Maintaining Goodwill and Understanding through Kaamatan”.
Pairin read out the text of speech of Musa at the official closing ceremony.
Musa called on the people to be thankful for the peace, prosperity and stability they enjoyed and maintain unity to further develop the state.
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