The Kaamatan Festival (Part 2)

The main highlight of the Kaamatan Festival is the Unduk Ngadau (Beauty Contest). Here are some facts about it.

1. Huminodun’s Beautification in Unduk Ngadau

At noontime, something stirs to move the crowd towards the main hall packing it to its full capacity. But of course, who would want to miss the main highlight of the Kaamatan Festival, the moment of beautification of Huminodun in Unduk Ngadau.

Lest we forget, the Unduk Ngadau Queen selection is never meant to be just another of those Beauty Queen Contests. Here, feminine sensuality and bold exhibitions of the physical endowments of contestants do not determine the winner.

Beyond physical beauty, concealed in piety and attired decently in full traditional costumes, the Unduk Ngadau must satisfy the judges that in her most natural self she portrays the best potentials to resemble beatified Huminodun, the Kadazandusun Queen of love and compassion, the ultimate symbol of perfection and purity, as reflected in the ancient Momolian Rinaits:

“Were your beauty light, it would be as the blazing sun,And my eyes would not withstand to gaze at your transfigured face;Were your piety and might measurable in terms of height,Tthey would reach the noon sun and yet stand firm and upright;For you are divine, symbol of perfection, purity and sacrificial love.”

In the words of the Late Bobolian Odu Miada Gumarong: “Kohunduk do tadau kabalangkason di Huminodun”, which means, “The radiance of Huminodun’s beauty is such that it can shame the eyeball of the sun and cause it to drop”

Once crowned, the reigning Unduk Ngadau is expected to be about the will and ways of Huminodun for a year, living an exemplary lifestyle in caring and serving the less fortunate, championing causes for the poor and the needy and doing other benevolent work deemed attributes of Huminodun.

Comes the next Kaamatan Festival, the Unduk Ngadau Crown, along with its honor, dignity and responsibilities will then be passed on to the new Unduk Ngadau and thereafter to the lines of succeeding future Unduk Ngadaus, to keep alive always, Huminodun’s divinity in Unduk Ngadau, in Paddy and humanity itself.

2. Huminodun’s Everlasting Kaamatan Message

Huminodun’s message, soft and gentle, shall always be the highest joyful thoughts, the clearest words of truth and the profoundest feelings of love.

To understand Huminodun as Soul of Unduk Ngadauis to understand the Kaamatan Festival;Huminodun is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow…So too, Unduk Ngadau will always be -- The Soul of Kaamatan, Enduring where and when all else perish, like Love endures,For Huminodun in Unduk Ngadau is Love.

There are 41 finalist this year from all the district around Sabah. However, picture below is my favourite finalist this year, Ms Appey Rowena, representing Papar.

Well, for those outside Sabah or Malaysia who never experience this festival, you should come to Sabah , perhaps next 30th-31st May, 2010! You won't regret it! I'm proud to be a Sabahan...Sabah boleh bah!

Wishing you all KOTOBIAN TADAU TAGAZO DO KAAMATAN 2009!