It's all about Kaamatan

Kotobian Tadau Tagazo do Kaamatan. Be it bountiful harvests or just the little things in life, there's so much to celebrate and be thankful for..


We, as Kadazandusuns of Sabah celebrate this Kaamatan Festival every year since time immemorial.Kaamatan refers to the paddy-harvesting period, which involves a series of traditional rituals culminating finally to the Kaamatan (harvest) festival.The word Kaamatan is derived from the root word 'tomot'(tuaian), a Kadazandusun term for harvest. And one of my favorite events is the Unduk Ngadau..

Unduk Ngadau is a beauty pageant held during Kaamatan in Sabah, Malaysia. The word comes from 'Runduk Tadau' which literally means 'the girl crowned by sunlight'.
The Unduk Ngadau, or Harvest Festival queen, symbolizes Huminodun, the sacrificed daughter of Kinorohingan. It is also believed that she is the first who teach Bobohizan the ritual mantra that exist until today.

Contestants in the state-level pageants are the winner of their district's pageant. However, some districts hold joint pageants which produce more than one state-level contestant.

Notably, Tuaran and Tamparuli hold a joint pageant in Tamparuli, with the first-place winner going on to represent Tuaran, and the second-place winner representing Tamparuli.As i'm staying at Tamparuli, so it would be my pleasure to upload Tamparuli's pagent here..She's Miss Flina Rutum. Grabbed this photo from undukngadau.com..thanx ya!

She won the title of miss Natural Beauty..congrats to her..

And as for the state level competition, here's the overall photo of the winners. Grabbed from Undukngadau.com



Appey Rowenna Januin, representing Papar was crowned the 2009 State-level Pesta Kaamatan Unduk Ngadau at Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang on Sunday 31/05. First runner-up was Kota Kinabalu Unduk Ngadau, Pearl Dianne Petrus (right), while the second runner-up was Joanne Kimberly Majalap (left). In fouth place was Flina Runtum from Tamparuli, followed by Jacquline Joseph of Keningau in fifth place. Fredericka Camilia Richard Daut of Tuaran in sisth place and Elinna Masiun of Likas in seventh.

Congrats to all the beautiful sumandaks.May all of you continue to give the best for our culture.I'm so proud to be Sabahan!