Page 439 - Proceedings Collega2023

Shamanism

Shamanism is a spiritual and healing practice that has been present in various cultures
around the world for thousands of years. It is often considered one of the oldest forms of
religious or spiritual expression. Shamans, the practitioners of shamanism, are individuals who
are believed to have a special connection with the spirit world, and they serve as intermediaries
between the physical and spiritual realms. In this context, since Dayung Borih was a "doctor" in
the past and science and medicine were unknown at the time, they think that's why this
occurred. Dayung Borih was to believe in traditional healing methods.

Eruption and resolution of crisis

Eruption and resolution of crisis can be defined as the first stage of a crisis is the
identification of a problem, issue, or conflict and to resolve a crisis, it's important to assess the
situation thoroughly. This involves understanding the root causes of the crisis, its status, and
potential solutions. In this context, the main problem or issue that leads to the Gawai ritual
taking place is the need to ensure a successful rice harvest and maintain the well-being of the
community. This is not so much a problem in the sense of a crisis but rather a recurring challenge
that traditional agricultural societies face. The Gawai ritual serves as a solution or response to
this challenge by addressing agricultural dependence whereby The primary livelihood of the
indigenous Dayak communities in Sarawak and neighboring regions is agriculture, with rice as a
staple crop. The success of the rice harvest is crucial for their food security and economic well-
being. Besides that, the outcome of the rice harvest is heavily dependent on natural factors such
as weather, soil fertility, and the presence of pests and diseases. These factors can pose
challenges and uncertainties for the agricultural community. dependence on natural factors The
success of the rice harvest is crucial for their food security and economic well-being.

Performance in everyday life

Performance in everyday life refers to the way individuals consciously or unconsciously
present themselves, their actions, and their identities to others in various social and personal
contexts. Performance in everyday life is a fundamental aspect of human interaction and social
dynamics. This element applied in gawai ritual by the Dayung Borih. This is because, Gawai is
related with farming. The relationship between farming and the Gawai ritual is closely
intertwined, as Gawai is primarily an agricultural festival celebrated by indigenous Dayak
communities in Sarawak, Malaysia, and neighboring regions. The festival is deeply connected to
the agricultural cycle and reflects the significance of farming in the lives of these communities.

Play

Play has a context. Play, as it is commonly understood, takes place in a formally bound
environment that is established by the rules and the play community. However, the situation is
more nuanced. The network of people, regulations, agreements, places, and things is messier.
Play takes place in a complex universe of objects, people, places, and cultures. (Sicart , 2014).
Within this frame of reference, Dayung Borih started way back to folklore. According to the story
by Mek Bibien she told that it all started by the life of a men that needs help to do the farming.
The spirit looks pity on him and decide to sent down her daughter to help him. The young men
fell in love with the spirit lady and decided to stay there to help the community and to teach
them the right way to worship the spirit.

International Conference on Local Wisdom of the Malay Archipelago (COLLEGA 2023) Page - 426 -