KUCHING: The Gawai Dayak rice festival will for the first time have a bazaar for traders to sell food, beverages and handicraft.
About 180 stalls will open from May 16 to 26, bazaar working committee deputy chairman Miro Simuh, who is Serembu assemblyman, said today.
The bazaar will be sited at MJC Batu Kawa, a township 5km from the city, and the hours are from 2pm to midnight.
Miro said "exciting side events and activities" will "liven up the atmosphere and enrich visitors' experience".
Among them are the nightly appearance of recording artistes and cultural performances.
"I am appealing to everyone, particularly Dayaks, to support the traders by buying cakes, biscuits and other items before heading back to your longhouse."
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah will declare the bazaar open on May 17.
It's the turn of the Bidayuh, Sarawak's second largest Dayak group, to organise this year's celebration.
It will kick off with the 'maad kasah,' which in Bidayuh means 'roll out the mat', signifying the start of the celebration.
Gawai Dayak, which is to mark the end of the rice harvest, is on June 1 and 2 every year.