Capture a very worthwhile experience, says Adlin

Published on: Sunday, May 03, 2009

Capture a very worthwhile experience, says Adlin  By: Kan Yaw Chong  A "really worthwhile experience" for all who turn up for it is engineered into 'Mystical Sabah' - theme of May 2-11 Sabah Fest 2009, Tengku Datuk Dr. Adlin, Chairman of of Sabah Tourism Board, declared.

"Don't miss it, make a serious effort to see especially experience what most people have never seen before," Tengku said in a message to the people of Sabah.

He singled out the staging of a very rare Lotud ritual Mamahui Pogun at the May 3 Premier Show at Sutera Magellan grand Ballroom.

But that's only one element of a rich and diverse content of two-day (May 2-3) morning to night Cultural Extravaganza means exactly that: Lavish display of age old ritualistic talisman, sacred jars, diverse crafts, live demos, art works, music, dances, climaxing in an elaborately staged and costumed Premier Show which will be officiated by Head of State and attended by the Chief Minister and his Cabinet Ministers.

Everything is open to he public, the May 3, 8pm Premier Show included, organisers promised.

What makes 'Mystical Sabah' a very worthwhile experience?

"We have rituals - the living heritage most people have never ever see, far less experienced," he said, citing the Mamahui Pogun or 'Cleansing of the Universe."

"That's really something," Adlin said.

"You are going to see all the authentic bobohizans and tatangas (high priestesses ) and their rituals, their talisman of more than 150 years , their 200 year-old sacred jars which are really authentic and original," Adlin added.

"In all, about 700 people are involved in the Cultural Extravaganza and more than half of them come out from real life villages across Sabah some of who have never seen Kota Kinabalu before," Adlin noted.

"What I want to tell Sabah people, Malaysians in Sabah and visitors alike is it'll be a worthwhile experience when you talk to the elders from the villages, see the philosophy behind their rituals and find out so much substance and meaning as to why they did so much of this in the past," Adlin said.

"We are very proud that people can come and experience the 'mystics of Sabah' which is still relevant today. But the most important message is Harmony in Diversity which resonates 1-Malaysia and Sabah Truly Malaysia," Adlin said.