Gawai Dayak

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Gawai Dayak
Iban maidens dressed in traditional costume during Gawai festival in Debak, Betong region, Sarawak
Official name	Gawai Dayak
Also called	Ari Gawai (Iban people), Andu Gawai (Bidayuh)
Observed by	Sarawak
Type	Religious, social, traditional ethnic festival
Celebrations	Gawai Dayak
Begins	1 June
Ends	2 June
Date	1 June
Next time	1 June 2025 (2025-06-01)
Frequency	annual
First time	1965 in Sarawak, Malaysia

Gawai Dayak (previously as known as Dayak Day or Sarawak Day) is an annual festival and a public holiday celebrated by the Dayak people in Sarawak, Malaysia on 1 and 2 June. Sarawak Day is now celebrated on July 22 every year.^[1] Gawai Dayak was conceived of by the radio producers Tan Kingsley and Owen Liang and then taken up by the Dayak community. The British colonial government refused to recognise Dayak Day until 1962. They called it Sarawak Day for the inclusion of all Sarawakians as a national day, regardless of ethnic origin. It is both a religious and a social occasion recognised since 1957.

On 1 June 1963, Datuk Michael Buma, a Betong native, hosted the celebrations of the first Gawai Dayak at his home at Siol Kandis, Kuching.^[2] On 25 September 1964, Sarawak Day was gazetted as a public holiday acknowledging the formation of the Federation of Malaysia. The holiday was first celebrated on 1 June 1965 and it became a symbol of unity, aspiration and hope for the Dayak community. It is an integral part of Dayak's social life. It is a thanksgiving day marking a bountiful harvest and a time to plan for the new farming season or other endeavours ahead.

It is also celebrated by Dayak in West Kalimantan, Indonesia on the same date, although not a public holiday as well as other Dayak (particularly Iban and Bidayuh) diaspora all around Malaysia, Indonesia and a broad.