Kaamatan

Kaamatan, also known as Tadau Kaamatan, is the annual harvest festival of Sabah’s Kadazandusun peoples, celebrated across Sabah, Malaysia. The festival centers on the rice harvest and gratitude for the land’s fertility, and it is commonly observed toward the end of May, with a public holiday in Sabah on May 30 and 31. The Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant, held during the celebrations, honors the legendary harvest heroine linked to the festival’s origins.

Origins and significance: Kaamatan has its roots in traditional rice-harvest rituals and in Kadazandusun mythology, notably the story of Huminodun, a daughter of the supreme deity who sacrificed herself to ensure crops for her people. The term Kaamatan means harvest, and the festival expresses gratitude for a bountiful harvest as well as the continuity of adat (customary practices) and community life.

Celebrations and practices: Observances typically include rites to thank the harvest spirits, communal feasting, and cultural performances. Iconic dances such as Sumazau and Magunatip (the bamboo dance) are performed, often accompanied by traditional music and gong ensembles. Traditional foods and drinks, including rice wine (tuak) and various ceremonial dishes, are shared as part of the celebration. The Unduk Ngadau competition is a focal point of the festival, commemorating Huminodun’s legacy.

Rating and status: Kaamatan is a defining cultural event for Sabah’s indigenous communities and is recognized as a state public holiday. It plays a key role in preserving Kadazandusun language, music, dance, and adat, while fostering cultural identity and social cohesion within Sabah.