Ma Had Lang Last Ervan is a traditional festival celebrated by the Kadazan Dusun community in Sabah, Malaysia. The festival, which translates to “Harvest Festival” in English, is a time for giving thanks for the bountiful harvest and is one of the most important cultural events in the Kadazan Dusun calendar.
The festival typically takes place in May, at the end of the harvest season, and lasts for a week. It is a time for the community to come together to celebrate their culture and heritage through various activities such as traditional dances, music performances, and sporting events.
One of the highlights of Ma Had Lang Last Ervan is the Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant, where young Kadazan Dusun women compete for the title of “Harvest Queen.” The pageant is not just about physical beauty, but also about showcasing the contestants’ knowledge of their culture and traditions.
Another important aspect of the festival is the traditional food that is prepared and shared among the community. Dishes such as hinava (raw fish salad), bosou (fermented fish), and pinasakan (fish cooked in bamboo) are commonly served during the festival.
Throughout the week-long celebration, traditional rituals and ceremonies are also performed to give thanks to the spirits for the bountiful harvest and to seek their blessings for the upcoming planting season.
Ma Had Lang Last Ervan is a time for the Kadazan Dusun community to come together to celebrate their culture, traditions, and heritage. It is a reminder of the importance of giving thanks for the blessings of the harvest and of the need to preserve and pass on their cultural practices to future generations.