Daphne Iking is glad to tell the history, the uniqueness of the Kaamatan Festival to family, friends
KUALA LUMPUR: There are still many Malaysians, especially those living in the Peninsula, who do not know much about the history, meaning and uniqueness of the Kaamatan Festival which is celebrated on 30 and 31 May every year.
Although many are still unaware of the celebration, the media personality who is also the queen of Unduk Ngadau 2003, Daphne Iking said, every time she was asked about the festival, every time she would be happy and eager to tell her family and friends.
According to him, efforts must continue to be made to share the uniqueness of the celebration to Malaysians and for Daphne, she started the effort through her family first.
One of the ways she does it is by wearing the traditional clothes of the Kadazan Dusun tribe even during Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
In fact, her son also wore traditional clothes when celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri at school recently, coinciding with the theme from the school which is traditional clothes.
“I remember one time we made a Hari Raya portrait. I decided to wear a Kadazan shirt, my husband wore a Malay shirt, my daughter wore a Cheongsam and that became a very beautiful portrait.
“There were many comments, they said yes, that’s right, they are not necessarily Muslims, they have to wear Malay clothes. From there we create awareness, we should get used to not just one costume tradition, just one language.
“Now, I make cooking program with Sabahans in the Peninsula who come from various states.
“We will cook and show our traditional food. Things like this are an example for us to create awareness of our culture, “she said .
Adds Daphne, two years of no celebration due to the pandemic, this year it was celebrated very lively.
“I got an ‘update’ from my family in Sabah, the celebration this year was very lively,” she said.
Astro AWANI previously reported that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah agreed to congratulate the Kaamatan Festival to all who celebrated the festival in Sabah.
Istana Negara through a post on the official Facebook account stated that the two monarchs expressed the hope that the celebration that is meaningful to the Kadazandusun community will continue to foster inter -racial harmony and strengthen unity in Malaysia.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob also had the opportunity to record a Happy Kaamatan Festival to Malaysian Family members who celebrated it.
Through a post on his Facebook , Ismail Sabri said Malaysia’s harmony with racial and cultural diversity celebrates ethnic festivals in a prosperous country.
source – Astro Awani
