Pesta_Kaul

Kaul Festival @ Pesta Kaul The best known festival celebrated by the Melanaus is the Kaul Festival (pesta Kaul) Originating from the animistics beliefs traditionally held by the Melanaus,the Pesta kaul is annually ,usually in march or early April ,as purification and thanks giving to the appease the spirits of the sea ,land ,forests and farm.Its is celebrated at the of the northeast monsoon ,and irs marks the beginning of the Melanau New Year.The hot spot would be Lamin Dana ,a beach in Mukah in which is transformed into a carnival ground when it is time for the Kaul celebrations. The Tibow , the death defying 20 – foot high swing ,here youth dive from a high bamboo scaffolding and catch a swinging 1 rope as it reaches the high of its arc.First one,then two and eventually eight young men hanging in aclump from the giant swing as its soars above the beach.Traditionally ,it was a daunting of courage and skill for unmarried men to attract the attention of the fair maidens .But these days.it provide good entertaintment.Now anyone can climb to the highest rung of the rack with the free rattan cable ,sit firmly in the loop and push off to the “ooos” and “ah” of the spectators below.The jump from the highest rung gets the. Highest rung gets the greatest adrenalin rush. Tibow - a traditional giant swing sometimes 20-feet high, from which youths would dive down to catch a swinging rope. Villages would be Palei or Taboo for days before Kaul.No one was allowed to leave or enter, and people underwent purification ceremonies during Kaul.The highly decorated fishing boats move down river carrying the Seraheng ,a flat basket raised on a bamboo pole .It is placed on the river bank While the Bapa Kaul or leader of the ceremony invokes the spirits and pour water over the offerings .In the past the sick and the elderly would gather by the ‘Serahang’so that the water pour on the offerings would fall on them and wash all evil .Today the ceremony is of social rather than religious significance. Serahang