Date : Apr 21 - 29 2012
Time : 9 am to 10 pm
Venue : Tapak Pesta Kaul, Kuala Dana, Mukah
Mukah Sarawak
Organiser : Mukah Divisional Tourism Task Group
The best-known festival celebrated by the Melanaus is the Kaul Festival (Pesta Kaul). Originating from the animistic beliefs traditionally held by the Melanaus, the Pesta Kaul is held annually, usually in March or early April, as a purification and thanksgiving to appease the spirits of the sea, land, forests and farm.
This festival is celebrated by the Melanau people living in the coastal settlements in Mukah. Through the festival, the Melanau people offer their thanks to the spirits for keeping them safe through the monsoon season, and ask for a good bounty on their fishing trips.
Today, however, the Pesta Kaul is celebrated more as a cultural festival, rather than a religious one. One of the highlights of this festival is the tibau – a traditional giant swing sometimes 20-feet high, from which youths would dive down to catch a swinging rope. There are also performances of traditional dance such as the alu alu and display of martial art performances.
