Gawai dayak festival - Malaysia

As the big day approaches, everyone will be busy with general cleaning and preparing food and cakes.

Men performing the Ngajat dance Source: Tourist Guide Malaysia Male dancers tend to incorporate sharp prancing movements akin to fighting stances, while wielding an ornate long wooden shield and a sword.

It does not only preserve the important heritage of the Dayaks, but it also celebrates unity, aspiration and hope for the community.

Women Ngajat dance revolves around hip and graceful arm movements The intensity of the dance is heightened by the thumping accompaniment of the bebendai gongs , dedumba traditional drums , and punctuations of war cries.