Spotlight on Iban maidens.

RINTOS MAIL
rintos@thestar.com.my www.thestar.com.my

TWENTY-One Iban maidens will vie for the 15 spots in the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) Kumang Gawai final at the Christian Ecumenical Centre in Jalan Stampin, Kuching, on May 15.

The finalists will be known at the semi-final stage at Penview Hotel tomorrow.

One of the contestants Wandy Lia Salleh

The Kumang Gawai contest is the highlight of the SDNU Gawai Dayak celebration.

The winner will walk away with RM5,000 and a trophy while the first and second runners-up will receive RM3,000 and RM2,000 plus a trophy respectively.

There will also be a subsidiary title, Star-SDNU Miss Photogenic, sponsored by The Star, the official paper for the event. The winner will walk away with RM1,000 plus a trophy.

All the finalists will receive a consolation prize of RM400 each.

SDNU Gawai Dayak 2010 organising committee chairman Dr Dusit Jaul said this year's celebration would be the grandest ever.

One of the contestants Ethel Lampai Ringgit

He said, besides the Kumang Gawai, the dinner celebration would showcase Dayak cultural performances and witness the participation of fellow Dayak communities from neighbouring West Kalimantan in Indonesia.

Themed Celebrating Dayak Cultural Uniqueness, Dusit said that those coming for the event could expect a colourful presentation of authentic Dayak cultural performances by local performers adorning traditional costumes of the Dayak communities namely Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu.

“Diners will also be entertained with special performances by Dayak cultural troupes from West Kalimantan,” he added.

One of the contestants Natasha Charmaine Rickson

Dusit said about 50 officers and performers from Majlis Adat Dayak Indonesia, Dewan Adat Dayak Kalimantan Barat and Persatuan Perempuan Dayak Kalimantan Barat (Kalimantan Barat Dayak Women's Association) had been invited to add colour to the celebration.

“They will parade their beautiful queens in full Dayak Indonesia traditional costumes during the dinner at the Kumang Gawai final,” he said.

Dusit said the response to the dinner was encouraging, adding that 92 of the 100 tables had been sold.

He said the committee was expecting guests from as far as West Kalimantan, Labuan and Sabah.