The annual three-day celebration, is to appease the spirit of the skulls, which are securely kept in the attic of a skull house called 'Baruk'.
The skulls are actually the trophies of past head hunting activities called 'ngoyu'. Although the practice of 'Ngoyu' is now long gone, 'nyobeng' is still celebrated annually by the Sebujit folks.
This year, the festival is celebrated for a week as nyobeng is now in the Indonesian calendar of tourism. On 12th-14th of June, the activities include exhibition of handicrafts and cultural shows. On 15th June is nyobeng proper, or the climax of the festival. On 16 June is the final day of nyobeng.
Pak Gunawan, the Ketua Panitia (Organising Chairman) is inviting the village chiefs of neighbouring Dayak Bidayuh villages, whether in West Kalimantan or Sarawak (North Borneo), to the festival.
However, tourists, though welcome, will have to come in under the homestay program.
Interested parties from Sarawak are encouraged to contact Pak Pantak at email: swisserikin@live.com.
Maybe dayak in Sarawak still practice this tradition? I'not sure. Good we still can see this type of tradition, it should be preserve for our younger generation...
ReplyDeleteGood gracious NO!.Head hunting is history. It is banned and is illegal.
ReplyDeleteWe do though, by the stroke of the pen. haha...