The Bidayuh people are proud of their traditional attire as it marks their heritage. The Bidayuh traditional attire has also undergone some changes throughout the years, from a simple sarong to a more intricate looking outfit.
In this blog post we will discuss the Bidayuh attire that is commonly worn during the Gawai Dayak Festival (Harvest Festival). It is also worn during a performance, a show, or an elaborate presentation. It can be worn as everyday wear but most of the time the common Bidayuh prefers to wear something more modern such as a T shirt, etc.
The complete Bidayuh female traditional attire consists of a blouse, a skirt, a sash, a bead necklace, a copper/metal belt and a headgear.
The traditional necklace (
pangiah, kukong timuh or
pampan berad) is usually made of five or six rows of colouful ceramic beads and sometimes animal teeth. Nowadays, it is common to use plastic beads and artificial teeth for the necklaces. Other ornaments such as shells, coins or bells can be added to decorate the necklace as well.
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| A Bidayuh necklace with artificial teeth |
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| A Bidayuh necklace with coins, artificial teeth, and beads. |
The blouse (bojuh, bejuh or jipo) is black or red with silver, gold, red or black trims on the sleeves, hem and front edges.
A black skirt (jomuh, jomuh binua, jomuh birudu) with matching hemline is paired with the blouse. Sometimes, coins can be used in place of the trimmings or they come together with the trimmings. The coins produces a delightful sound whenever the wearer of the costume dance or move.
The sash, worn over the shoulders and around the neck is usually a scarlet red colour.
There are a few types of headgear in the Bidayuh female attire. The first is made of a cotton material. It is usually black or a combination of the colours red, black, yellow and white.
This particular type of headgear is called the sipiah.
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| Sipiah |
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| This is how the Sipiah is worn |
The second is conical shaped and it is made of rattan and cloth material. It is called the Raung or Raung Tukuo or Trinak. This type of style is said to be originated in the Serian District from my understanding (do correct me if I am wrong).
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| A Bidayuh lady in the Raung Tukuo |
A metal/ copper belt completes the Bidayuh traditional female attire. Other accessories can be worn such as bangles made of wood,beads or teeth.
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| A complete set |
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| Bidayuh couple in traditional attire |
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| A Bidayuh woman wearing the Raung/Raung Tukuo headgear |
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| Bidayuh women in traditional attire |
In conclusion, the Bidayuh female attire is a combination of jovial, bright colours combined with the elegance of a modest appeal. It is simple and comfortable to wear without failing to look exotic and beautiful. It is no wonder that the Bidayuh are proud of their costume.
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