Tadau Kaamatan – Portrait Series

“The Kaamatan festival is an annual event in the cultural life of the Kadazandusuns of Sabah since time immemorial. In its deepest sense, Kaamatan festival is a manifestation of Creator and Creation relationship, as well as Inter-Creations relationship. It embodies the principal acts of invocation of divinities, appeasing, purification and restoration, re-union of benevolent spirits, and thanksgiving to the Source of All. It is part of a complex wholesome Momolian religious system centered on the paddy rites of passage and the life cycle of Bambarayon – the in-dwelling spirit of paddy”-wiki

The peak of Tadau Kaamatan is on 30th & 31st May, most of the time, the event took place at KDCA, Penampang. This is the only day where the traditional houses arround the KDCA are fully occupied by its own native with their traditional costume, products, and some even performing traditional dance. I live near to KDCA which is just 3-4 kilometer away but this is my first time to visit KDCA during Tadau Kaamatan after about 4 years live in this area. I just had about 2 hour to walk arround it before i need to leave to do other things. Tadau Kaamatan gives a lot of portrait opportunity which i have set my date to be here next year for 2 days. In the mean time, this is some of the portrait that i managed to shoot during my 2 hour visit.

Dusun Tindal

Dusun Tindal

Dusun Tindal

“Dingkuh” from Tamparuli

Rungu Native with Sigal (Headdress)

Rungus Native performing Sumandai Mongigol

Rungus Native leading Sumandai Mongigol dance/ritual performance

Rungus Beads (Pinakol) & Sopilang

 

Native from Pitas

Feel free to view more images in my flickr set

“A still photograph is something which you can always go back to. You can put it on your wall and look at it again and again. Because it is that frozen moment. I think it tends to burn into your psyche. It becomes ingrained in your mind. A powerful picture becomes iconic of a place or a time or a situation.” – Steve McCurry

Rungus Traditional Costume & Mongigol Sumandai

There was Sunset Orchestra Music Fest happening at Tanjong Simpang Mengayau (also known as The Tip Of Borneo), Kudat. While everybody busy planning to watch the Orchestra, I actually planned to go there but with different interest – Rungus Ethnic With Traditional Costume. It was held on 29th & 30th June 2012, after made several phone calls asking about the events, i managed to get information about the VVIP are coming on the 2nd day. I guest, the organiser have made an arrangement to welcome the VVIP arrival. It is a normal practice here in Sabah, if some big event is happening added with the appearance of VVIPs, there will be a slot of welcome the guest & VVIP be it traditional dances or just stand there and greet.

Here’s few photo taken during the Welcoming Ceremony that i managed to capture.

© Mohd Shukur Jahar | “Mongigol Sumandai” Performance, Rungus Ethnic Traditional Dance at Tip Of Borneo During The Sunset Orchestra

© Mohd Shukur Jahar | Rungus With Traditional Costume Performing “Mongigol Sumandai” During The Music Fest at Tip Of Borneo 2012

© Mohd Shukur Jahar | “Mongigol Sumandai” Performed by a group of local from Misompuru Homestay With Beautiful Traditional Costume of Rungus During The Sunset Orchestra at The Tip Of Borneo 2012.

©Mohd Shukur Jahar | Rungus | The Tip Of Borneo | Sunset Orchestra Music Fest 2012