Kuching Gawai Parade ‘Niti Daun’ 2023

‘Niti Daun’ is also known as Gawai Dayak Parade, is a parade procession of the Dayak people of Sarawak, which is common in the longhouse of the Dayak people before Gawai celebration. This year Kuching ‘Niti Daun’ parade is in conjunction with the Gawai Dayak celebration 2023 and the 60th Sarawak Independence Celebration. The parade of 91 contingent with 3,000 participants showcase the unique tradition of the Dayak people of Sarawak with traditional costumes and traditional dance performances during the parade along the Kuching City roads.

Event : Kuching Gawai Parade ‘Niti Daun’ 2023

Date : 17th June 2023 (Saturday)

Activities : Traditional costume parade and traditional dance performance, featuring the customs of the Dayak people of Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu.

The parade started at 2:15PM from the Tun Jugah building and end at the Kuching Waterfront covering around total of 1.2km. The main stage is at Kuching Waterfront area near the Kuching Old Court House and the Square fort.

There are several road being closed for the smooth running of the event from 10AM to 5PM. The Affected road closure for the parade event :

• Sri Aman roundabout
• Jalan Padungan
• Jalan Abel traffic lights
• Jalan Petanak
• Jalan Bukit Mata
• Jalan Wawasan/Lebuh Wayang
• Jalan Carpenter
• Jalan Old Court House/Jalan Khoo Hun Yeang
• Jalan Gambier/Jalan Power

This is not the first ‘Niti Daun’ parade in Kuching City. The first ‘Niti Daun’ parade in Kuching City was in year 1993, subsequently the last one is at year 2018. This year ‘Niti Daun’ parade is with conjunction with the Gawai Dayak celebration and the 60th Sarawak Independence Celebration.

The parade this year having total of 91 contingents with 3,000 people joining the parade. The participants including different association of the Dayak people in Kuching, leader of Dayak communities and also government and non-government bodies. It showcase the diversity in the Dayak culture.

This unique traditional costume and dance parade of the Dayak people of Sarawak successfully attracts thousands of visitors, local and foreigners, all standing along the Kuching City roads to witness the parade performances. The traditional costumes that is mainly being wear during special ceremonies in the longhouses and village had grab attentions of city folks as it is not normally seen in modern city daily life. The costume features handcraft beads, animal skins cape and bird feather hat. Some performers also holding hand crafted wooden shields and fine crafted swords and spears.

The parade ends successfully in the evening where everyone are happy to be part of the parade. It is hoped the event will be a regular yearly parade event as it is a eye opener for many people as many younger generation just witness the diversity of the Dayak traditional culture.