Mukah - Pesta Kaul

I joined one of Sarawak's famous festival held at Mukah Town called the Kaul Festival ( In malay " Pesta Kaul " ).

Pesta Kaul is a traditional festival celebrated by the Melanaus living along the coast of Sarawak. It is ritual of purification and thanksgiving as well as one of propitiation for good fortune. Kaul marks the beginning of the Melanau calendar, which begins at the end of the Northeast monsoon.

In the past, Kaul was looked upon as an annual religious ceremony to appease the spirits of the sea, land, forest and farm making it the most important festival in the Melanau calendar. Their conversion to Islam and Christianity has changed the practice of Kaul into more of a socio-cultural gathering than a religious one. Nevertheless, the essence of the festival remains intact and its ritual still carried out.

Among the highlights of Kaul are a local demonstration of daredevil jumping from "Tibou" (a twenty foot high giant swing), a display of traditional games and dances, a flotilla of beautifully decorated fishing boats, and a demonstration of traditional martial arts namely the Pencak Silat.


Manage to snap this sunrise photo on the way to Mukah town, around 6-7 morning.


Upon arriving Mukah outer district ( still a long way to Mukah town ), both sides of the road are palm oil plantation.


Some tradisional food or kuih are been sold at the festival. Some are actuaclly quite delicious if you know how to eat it -_-"


One of the stall are selling landscaping products such as flowers, cactus, bonsai and others.


One of the decoration at the Kaul Festival.


Tradisional way of sawing a log. Quite fun but tiring. Believe me...I've tried it.


Antiques from the older generation of Melanau race. They do trading with China traders, because there are some vases or pots origin from China.


" Tibou " ( a twenty foot high giant swing ), something like the swing in the playground but it's more risky. It's fun because you need to jump from the platform to the swing while it's swinging towards you, and you can only get hold of the center rattan. It can swing at least 10 feet high ( imagine that ). Well, i've tried it and manage to play a few rounds before my friends drag me out of the " Tibou ".