Penampang - Sabah‘s "Tadau Kaamatan" or Harvest Festival officially came to a close at the HongKod Koisan in Penampang District recently.
Large crowds of people from different ethnic groups as well as tourists from Brunei, Australia, England, Japan, Europe, Japan and the United States, converged on the venue to witness the colourful events that marked the closing of this year‘s Harvest Festival, which was themed "Peace Through Culture".
The guest of honour was the Sabah Head of State, Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Ahmadshah bin Abdullah, who was accompanied by his wife Toh Puan Datin Seri Panglima Hajah Dayang Masuyah binti Awang Jaafar.
The guest of honour was welcomed and accompanied to the stage by the Sabah Deputy Chief Minister/Minister of Rural Development, Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Datuk Kitingan, who was also Chairman of the Pesta Kaamatan; the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman; and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Datuk Dr Maximus J Ongkili, who was also the Coordinating Chairman (Kadazandusun Culture Centre) of the Tadau Kaamatan.
To mark the closing ceremony, the dignitaries took part in a ritual which included the pouring of the paddy from the "sukat" into the "Tangkob", followed by the beating of the gong seven times.
The host for this year‘s launching of the Tadau Kaamatan was Beaufort District. The ceremony "magavau" was officially launched by the "Bobolian" or Priestesses Kadazandusun of Beaufort District.
The official closing ceremony was followed by a performance by a choir from Beaufort District. A dance-drama was also performed by the artistes from the Sabah Cultural Board and cultural troupes from the respective districts. (By Rahmat bin Haji Abdul Rahman)
Source: www.brunei-onlin.com (June 4, 2008)
