The Iban people’s annual harvest thanksgiving festival in Sarawak is called Gawai Dayak.
Gawai Dayak is celebrated in the Malaysian state of Sarawak by Dayak communities, including the Iban and Bidayuh. It takes place on 1 June, a date that is also observed as a public holiday in Sarawak.
The festival grew from longstanding indigenous harvest customs and became an officially recognized celebration in 1965. Families commonly clean and decorate their longhouses, welcome visitors, prepare traditional food, and serve tuak, a rice wine associated with the festivities.
Gawai Dayak is sometimes confused with Kaamatan, another major harvest festival in Malaysia. Kaamatan is primarily associated with the Kadazan-Dusun and Murut peoples of Sabah, whereas Gawai Dayak is associated with Dayak communities in Sarawak. Both festivals are harvest celebrations, but they have different cultural settings and names.