Every May, Sabah joyfully celebrates the grand occasion of the Harvest Festival (Pesta Kaamatan).
Rooted in the millennium-old agricultural traditions of the Kadazan-Dusun people, the festival is a time to give thanks to the rice spirit Bambaazon for a bountiful harvest and to restore harmony between humans and nature.
The core of the festival is a sacred ritual led by priestesses, who chant in an ancient language within the rice fields to communicate with the rice spirit, Bambaazon. Using bamboo tubes, they collect the “soul of the rice” and pray for a prosperous harvest each year. If you’re interested in this tradition, visit the Sabah Cultural Center in Kota Kinabalu, where century-old ritual artifacts, such as hornbill-feathered headdresses and wooden human-shaped carvings, are on display.
During the celebration, you’ll have the chance to witness and participate in a series of spectacular performances and activities.
Traditional dances come to life as male and female dancers gracefully mimic the movements of egrets spreading their wings. Accompanied by the rhythmic beat of gongs, they form a mesmerizing spiral formation, with every step reflecting rich cultural heritage. Beyond just watching, you can also join the outer circle and dance along!
The festival also features various traditional game competitions, such as shooting a coconut shell target 30 meters away using a 2-meter-long blowpipe or walking barefoot across a suspended bamboo pole obstacle course. Each challenge is thrilling to watch and even more exciting to try!
After the festivities, take a moment to slow down and learn traditional crafts from the indigenous community. Try weaving a beaded necklace or painting your own story on a canvas made from pounded jackfruit tree bark.
At the Harvest Festival, you can also savor local delicacies such as citrus-marinated raw fish and sweet rice wine made from fermented red glutinous rice.
Music is an essential part of the celebration. With rice fields as the backdrop, the sounds of traditional instruments transport you to the festival’s origins, where ancient stories unfold through melody. Then, bridging the past with the present, Malay pop singers reinterpret traditional tunes, breathing new life into them.
Friends from all backgrounds gather at the Sabah Harvest Festival to share joy and happiness. This celebration not only reflects deep respect for nature but also expresses heartfelt gratitude for a bountiful life.
