Harvest Festivals of Malaysia – Top Things to Do

Harvest festivals in Malaysia have always been an important part of the agricultural landscape. These festivals are celebrated to give thanks for the bountiful harvest and to seek blessings for future crops. These festivals are also an excellent way to experience the rich cultural diversity of Malaysia.

Being in the sub-tropical region, the climate of Malaysia provides favourable temperatures and ample rainfall to cultivate crops. Durian, Rice, Rubber, Palm Oil, Bananas, Coconuts, Cocoa etc., are some of the widely grown crops in the region. The exotic produce of the country is exported globally, which also sustains the nation’s economy. This is why the harvest festivals of Malaysia are a different time of celebration and festivities.

Every region of the country joyously welcomes the onset of harvesting with several customs and traditions. However, the celebrations are extensive in the regions of Sabah and Labuan.

Harvest Festivals of Malaysia 

Pesta Kaamatan 

Pesta Kaamatan is Malaysia’s traditional harvest festival, celebrated annually in May. It is marked by month-long festivities, especially in the region of Sabah and Labuan. The ethnic Kadazan-Dusuns tribe of the Sabah region holistically celebrates the festival. Singing, dancing, bodybuilding competitions, and Unduk Ngadau- a beauty pageant are some of the cultural events that take place during the celebration of Pesta Kaamatan by Kadazan-Dusuns. 

Being a festival of thanksgiving to the rice gods of Malaysia, Pesta Kaamatan revolves around rice wine, tapai, Kinomol and other regional delicacies whose recipes date back to the early centuries. The festivities start on the 1st of May every year, and the last two days of the month – the 30th and 31st of May are declared public holidays. 

Gawai Dayak 

Celebrated by the Dayak people in the Sarawak region of Malaysia is the festival of Gawai Dayak. The days of 1st and 2nd June mark the auspicious trail of celebrations of this festival, also called Ari Gawai or Andu Gawai. The festival aims to appreciate and show gratitude for the bountiful harvest and marks the beginning of planning new endeavours for the coming farming season.

The festivities are commenced by warding off evil spirits through a ritual performed by the local Dayaks. An offering ceremony follows this at dusk, where containers of bamboo skin are filled with food and offered to ancestors and deities. As believed by the Dayaks, there are seven deities; hence seven different offerings are made, which include the offering of Tobacco, the cigarette nipah leaves, beetul nut, sireh leaves, glutinous rice, rice cakes (tumpi), sungki, penganan iri, hard-boiled chicken eggs and tuak rice.

After these offerings, the chief of the festival or priest shows gratitude for the excellent harvest and asks for blessings from the god. 

You can easily be a part of these festivities by booking a Kuching bus ticket.

Read more on Places to Visit in Sarawak

Tadau Kaamatan

Tadau Kaamatan is the harvest festival celebrated by the Kadazan-Dusun community in Penampang, Sabah. The festival is held in May, also known as the “Harvest Festival.” It is a time for the community to thank their deities for the bountiful harvest and seek blessings for future crops. The festival features traditional games, cultural performances, and the famous Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant.

Pongal

Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil community in Malaysia. The festival is held in January, also known as the “Harvest Festival.” The festival features traditional games, cultural performances, and the famous Kolam competition.

Mooncake Festival

The Mooncake Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is a harvest festival celebrated by the Chinese community in Malaysia. The festival is held in September and is a time for the community to give thanks for the bountiful harvest and to reunite with their families. The festival features traditional mooncakes, lanterns, and cultural performances.

Read more on Mooncake Festival

Things to do in the Harvest Festivals 

Being a foreigner, you might wonder what activities could be done during a harvest festival since connecting to people following a different belief can be arduous. However, Malaysians are very interactive and love sharing their cultural ideas and traditions with visitors. Therefore, you can effortlessly be a part of the harvest celebrations. 

Enjoy Regional Delicacies  

You can always be a part of a foreign culture through their food. The regional delicacies include Tapai or rice wine. Traditional dishes such as ‘hotpot’ (rice boiled and wrapped in leaves), hinava (a dish made with fish, lime juice, bird’s eye chilli, sliced ​​shallots and grated ginger) and nomsom bambangan (a  regional variety of mango pickle), etc. are some of the famous scrumptious dishes you are likely to find in any of the harvest festivals. You can watch the traditional dances and customs by enjoying the flavour of the regional delicacies. 

Shop Souvenirs 

Taking away only memories won’t be enough from Malaysia. To keep a record of your visits along with photographs, you should also shop for some souvenirs from your journey. The harvest festivals are marked by exciting stuff like ethnic costumes, beads, pearls, woven baskets, hats, and mouth organs, including sompoton and gongs. Not to forget, rice wine or Tapai is Malaysia’s regional delicacy; at these harvest festivals, you can always take them as souvenirs. 

Dance with the Locals 

You can always join the locals in their dance to have a ball. They will provide warmth like home, and you can feel the energy in their Sumazao. Dancing to the local beats is something you can take away to your homeland as a blissful memory of Malaysia. 

Catch a Glimpse of the Chiefs or Priestess at Sabah’s Harvest Festival 

Bobohizan, or the chief priestess, is the one who helps you to communicate with the lords of harvest. She makes the offerings and spreads the ancient wisdom acquired by her over the years. To enlighten your soul and experience the true spirit of harvesting, this can be an exotic chance. Only a few ancient communities retain such devotional practices where they rely on a Chief priestess to enlighten them towards the right path.

Play Indigenous Traditional Games

Sumpit or blowpipe shooting is one of the many traditions at the harvest festivals. You can enjoy such games at the festivals. More such games include tug of war or the infamous arm wrestling, or you can even boast of your strength at finger wrestling!

Penning it all Together 

Paying a visit to the cultural events of any place could help you peep into the rich heritage and diversity the region has to offer. Similarly, Malaysia, through its harvest festivals, can leave you stunned. The versatility of events and their significance among the regional groups and tribes reflects the strong and staunch faith in their religion and nature. 

Book your bus tickets to Sabah and Sarawak on redBus. Choose from a number of bus operators like Eva Express, Bus Asia for your travel. Check for bus ticket prices, bus schedules and use redBus promo codes at payment to get discounts when booking bus tickets online with us.