Chap Goh Mei (Guan Xiao Cheh)



The Chinese in the town managed to keep the tradition alive over the decades despite modernisation and Western influence. One of the example is the Chap Goh Mei Procession, a religious procession held in the town to mark the end of the Chinese New Year Celebration. Held in the morning on the 15th day of the First Moon of Chinese Calendar. Participated by lion dance, dragon dance troupes, Chinese musical bands, fancy dress teams.

The highlight of the event is a Chinese Medium been carried on knife-bladed sedan chair.  Before the procession started, the medium performed a ritual in the Bong Low Sian Tze temple and then went in trance after 'inviting' the deity Bong Low Sian Tze to enter his body to give him the mighty power to protect him from been hurt by the sharp knife blades. The procession passes through the major streets in the town to enable the medium to bless the twon and to wade off evil spirits and bring good luck and peace to the town.

Gawai Dayak / Dayak Festival Celebration

Traditional Rituals during the Dayak Festival Celebration


Dayaks is one of the indigenous groups in Sarawak. Traditionally, they are paddy planters. They celebrate the success of their planting season by holding the Harvest Festival known as Gawai Dayak.  Elderly folks(those who are pagans) believe that the success of the harvest is controlled by the spirits of the paddy. Thus rituals are held to appease the spirits at the beginning of the planting season.  Among the aims of the festival are to expressed their thanks to the spirits of the paddy and to request the spirits to give a better harvest during the next planting season.

Officially, the festival falls on June 1st. It is a public holiday. But traditional celebration with rituals to expressed their thank to the spirits of the paddy with offerings is held on difference dates ranges from the end of May to July, as decided by the celebration committee at each village. Each traditional celebration lasts for three days and three nights.

At present there are only a few villages still carrying on with the traditional celebration, while the younger generations celebrate the festival on June 1, in a modern way, with open house for relatives and friends from various races. It is in fact becoming a typical Malaysian festival with multi-racial favour.

In th state level celebration, a grand procession is usually been held in the state capital, to showcase the colourful culutre of the Dayak community which comprises of more than ten ethnic groups which are classified into three main groups, namely the Iban, Bidayuh and the Orang Ulus. Beauty Contest known as Kumang Gawai or Festival Queens dressed in full tradiitonal costumes are also been held as highlight of the celebration.

International Raft Safari

It is held at the Upper Sarawak River. Adventure through unspoilt tropical jungle and Wind Cave, on rafts made from soft woods or bamboos and other natural materials.  Each raft is allowed to carry three to five participants.
It is held in a form of competition with prizes consisting of cash and trophies.
Among the aims of the safari is to enable nature lovers to get closer to nature and to arouse the awareness on the importance of protecting the environment and natural heritage.
It is usually divided into four categories:

1. Men's Open - 23 km.
2. Men's Closed (Sarawakian only) - 12 km.
3. Women's Open - 12 km
4. Inter-Department -12 km

This year it was held on January 21, attracted 61 teams of about 300 participants from Malaysia, Philipiness and Australia.

International Motocross

It is held at Krokong Permanent Motocross Circuit, some 12 km from Bau twon
Held twice a year at April and August/September. Participated by motorists from Sarawak, Brunei and Indonesia.
It is divided into five categories:

• Cub-Standard
• Cub Modified/Street bikes
• Scramblers
• Motocross 125cc
• Motocross Open
• Bau Novice
• BMX Bike For Children

The Jong Regatta or Model Sailing Boat Racing
Tasik Biru is a venue for the popular sport - the jong regatta or model sailing boat racing.  Minature sailing boats were released at one end of the lake and letting the wind to blow them across to the other end of the lake to decide the winners.  With the restoration of the Tasik Biru, the jong regatta will now revived as one of the tourist attraction events.  




The Bung Bratak (Kpg. Tembawan Sauh)
On top of Bung Bratak (Bratak Peak), was where a settlement was located. The settlement was mentioned by both Sarawak's White Rajahs in their writings in the 1800s and the Dutch in Sambas in Kalimantan, Indonesia. The Jagoi-Bratak Bidayuhs were said to have settled at Bung Bratak from Gunung Sungkong in Kalimantan in the year 1000. It was often attacked by hostile predators from other areas before it finally fell to the Skrang Ibans. The settlement, strategically located at a hill shoulder and plateau, was considered prosperous with large stock of padi and was well-known throughout Borneo. It was the envy of the people from other areas. After days of intense attack, the settlement collapsed in the early hours of May 1, leaving the survivors to flee into the jungle. All the longhouses and the baruk were set ablaze by the attackers.

EVERY year on May 1, descendants of the survivors of the 1837 massacre will hold Jagoi-Bratak Day on top of Bung Bratak in Bau district, Sarawak, in memory of their ancestors.