Tadau Ka’amatan Harvest Festival

Name: Tadau Ka’amatan Harvest Festival
Start: 2025-05-29
End: 2025-05-30
Location: Kota Kinabalu

Sabah’s Festival of Gratitude and Life

2025/05/29 - 2025/05/30

Every May, Sabah, Malaysia, bursts into a celebration of color, music, and smiles for Tadau Ka’amatan-the Harvest Festival. Centered around the Kadazan-Dusun and Murut peoples, this festival unites villages and cities in giving thanks for the rice harvest and honoring ancestral spirits and nature. From Kota Kinabalu to rural communities, both locals and visitors are drawn in by the rhythms of dance, the aroma of traditional foods and rice wine, and the dazzling traditional costumes that showcase the rich culture of Borneo.

While the climax comes on May 30 and 31, Ka’amatan events take place throughout the month. The beat of gongs, the scent of bamboo-cooked rice and fresh tapai (rice wine), and the sparkle of black velvet costumes embroidered with gold and beads-every detail radiates the warmth of Sabah’s land and people. With bamboo dances, the Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Queen) pageant, and countless traditional dishes, this is a festival of gratitude and sharing where everyone is welcomed with a smile.

Main Attractions

Rituals, Dances, and the Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Queen) Pageant

At the heart of Ka’amatan are rituals led by the Bobohizan (female priestess), who offers prayers and gifts to the rice spirit Bambarayon. The legend of Huminodun, the maiden who sacrificed herself for her people, is honored through sacred ceremonies wishing for abundance and peace. Traditional dances like the hypnotic Sumazau and the fast-paced Magunatip (bamboo dance), as well as stilt races, arm wrestling, and blowpipe contests, fill the festival with excitement

The highlight is the Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Queen) pageant-a contest that celebrates not just beauty, but wisdom and cultural pride, paying tribute to the legendary Huminodun. The Sugandoi singing contest is also a crowd favorite, with traditional and improvised songs echoing through the festival grounds.

Traditional Costumes and Decorations

Ka’amatan is a feast for the eyes. Men and women dress in black velvet costumes adorned with gold thread, beads, and silver coins. Women wear flowers or elaborate headpieces, and men sport sashes and ceremonial daggers. Each region has its own distinctive patterns and accessories, highlighting Sabah’s diversity. Homes and venues are decorated with bamboo, woven mats, and colorful banners, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.

Traditional Food and Rice Wine

Ka’amatan is a paradise for food lovers. Enjoy hinava (marinated fish), pinasakan (fish stew), linongot (rice steamed in leaves), tuhau (wild ginger), and butod (sago grubs) for the adventurous. Desserts like ambuyat and local cakes are also popular. Tapai and lihing (rice wines) are served in bamboo cups or jars, filling the air with their sweet, earthy aroma.

Cultural and Historical Background

Tadau Ka’amatan is rooted in the agricultural beliefs and animist traditions of Sabah’s indigenous peoples, especially the Kadazan-Dusun and Murut. The legend of Huminodun, who sacrificed herself to save her people from famine and whose body became the first rice, is central to the festival. Her spirit, Bambarayon, is honored every year. Originally held after the full moon following the harvest, Ka’amatan is now an official public holiday in Sabah, symbolizing ethnic pride, unity, and gratitude.

Ka’amatan is more than just a harvest festival-it is a vital event for social unity, cultural preservation, and community bonding in Sabah’s multiethnic society. It blends tradition and modernity, passing on gratitude and joy from generation to generation.

Participant Voices

I joined for the first time from Kuala Lumpur and was amazed by the warmth of the people. I tried tapai, joined the bamboo dance, and cheered for the Unduk Ngadau contestants. It was the most welcoming festival I’ve ever attended.

Festival Dates

Tadau Ka’amatan is celebrated every May 30–31 throughout Sabah and Labuan. If you join a local community’s open house, you’ll quickly feel like part of the Sabah “family.”