Official Invitation Cards to Nyobeng

It was 9 am when Pak Gunawan reached Kupuo Jagoi Serikin today for a meeting with me. He came along with the official invitation cards for the chiefs of the neighbouring Dayak Bidayuh villages located along the border between Sarawak and West Borneo.

We dwelled on security from the government apparatus and the bad hats. He further assured me that there will a convoy of police and army accompanying us from the Serikin border, right up to Seluas town.

From Seluas town, we shall board a long boat right up to 'bikalan Sebujit' (common bathing spot by the stream). Our vehicles will be left at the Seluas police station for safe-keeping.

There is no life-jacket in the long boat, neither is there a roof. Passengers have to remain still when sitting down to keep the boat steady.

While most of the visitors from Sarawak will go to Sebujit via this route, another group from Gumbang, Krokong and Tringgus will go via Gumbang, following the 8-hour-walk traditional route of our 'komang'. They have to travel this route as they will be bringing along the 'komang' in a jar, which they had brought back from Sebujit two years ago.

'Komang' is the spiritual guardian of the Dayak Bidayuh community. The two left for Sebujit, to join another one 'residing' in Sebujit, just before the communal clashes between the Dayaks and Manduras. They remained in Sebujit till two years go. One was brought back to Gumbang two years ago by the Gumbang / Tringgus community.

This ONLY 'komang' will travel to Sebujit again on 13 June 2010 for this year's Festival Of The Skull.

Join us and experience the authentic actual 'nyobeng' rituals. swisserikin@live.com.