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📅 holiday

Hari Gawai Holiday

Monday, June 1, 2026

— days to go

Gawai Dayak also commonly known as Dayak Festival is one of the major festivals celebrated in Sarawak, East Malaysia. In 2026, Gawai Festival falls on Monday 1 June. The holiday will be on Tuesday 1 June in 2027. The word ‘Dayak’ is a collective term referring to the several hundred sub ethnic groups of indigenous people of Borneo. To name a few major ethnic groups, there are the Iban (Sea Dayak), Bidayuh (Land Dayak) and Orang Ulu (Kelabit, Kenyahs, Lun Bawangs, etc). Hari Gawai, which falls on the 1st and 2nd of June each year is particularly celebrated by the Ibans and Bidayuhs. It is both a religious and social occasion as this festival marks the end of the harvesting season (similar to Pesta Ka’amatan in Sabah) and it is a festival filled with much singing and dancing as they start a new farming season. It is one of the major festivals the Dayaks celebrate; therefore, most of those who work in the city would return to their village for the celebration. A month prior to Hari Gawai, most of the locals would prepare the often raved tuak or rice wine. This famous, not-to-be-missed concoction is made of glutinous rice collected from the recent harvest mixed with home-made yeast and is left for fermentation. Another similar but stronger alcohol that is made by the locals is called langkau. This is the equivalent of our modern day Vodka whereby fermented tuak goes through a process of heating and condensation before it is being collected in a container. The Gawai celebration is always an occasion of much merry-making. The celebration will not be complete if not for the singing, dancing and fair amount of drinking. Sometimes, Christian Dayaks would go to church for mass and gather after that for a celebration over dinner. Although officially it is only a two-day public holiday, the celebration often goes on continuously for over a fortnight. However, those who work will have to go back after the two-day celebration. If you have never visited East Malaysia, this is definitely a good time to visit Sarawak and have a taste of its local culture and be a part of the festivity.

History

Hari Gawai, which falls on the 1st and 2nd of June each year is particularly celebrated by the Ibans and Bidayuhs. It is both a religious and social occasion as this festival marks the end of the harvesting season (similar to Pesta Ka’amatan in Sabah) and it is a festival filled with much singing and dancing as they start a new farming season

How It's Celebrated

Gawai Dayak also commonly known as Dayak Festival is one of the major festivals celebrated in Sarawak, East Malaysia. In 2026, Gawai Festival falls on Monday 1 June. The holiday will be on Tuesday 1 June in 2027. Hari Gawai, which falls on the 1st and 2nd of June each year is particularly celebrated

Other Years

2026 Mon
1 Jun
2027 Tue
1 Jun
2028 Thu
1 Jun
2025 Sun
1 Jun
2024 Sat
1 Jun

Countries

🇲🇾 MY

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