The Lun Bawang community in Sarawak is looking forward to the annual Irau Aco Lun Bawang (Lun Bawang Festival) to be held from 30 May until 1 June 2023 in Lawas, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia. The festival, a celebration of Lun Bawang’s rich culture and heritage through displays of traditional music, performances, exhibitions and community sports, is organized yearly by the Lun Bawang Association of Sarawak since 1988. “Irau Aco Lun Bawang is the most sought after event by the Lun Bawang community in Sarawak and also across the region where our fellow natives are situated including in Sabah, Brunei and Kalimantan, Indonesia. With the rounding success from last year’s event, we are bringing the festival to a bigger venue at Lawas Stadium so all activities are concentrated in one place. It will also allow participants and visitors to fully enjoy and experience the festival,” said Dolphina Balang, President, Lun Bawang Association of Sarawak. The 3 days festival will be a display of various cultural programs and sporting activities which will see at least 3,000 participants involved including the opening ceremony, cultural nights, arts and cultural exhibitions. To promote unity amongst community, modern sports are held including football, volleyball and badminton while community sports like tug of war and blowpipe for men and women are included to add variety. This year, a fun run with a cultural theme will be added into the program to kick off the festival. Dolphina added, “The planning has begun earlier this year and the Association believes the organizing of this year’s festival will continue its success and even better. The festival hopes to also boost economic opportunities for the locals whilst discovering Lawas unique tourism offerings.” For the year 2024, Irau Aco Lun Bawang is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Limbang Resident Office, Lawas District Office and the Limbang Tourism Task Force Group which has been the driving force of the festival’s success over the years. The 37th edition will carry the theme ‘Culture Inspires Unity’ and the Association has also named Mr Jude Benjamin Lisa as the organizing chairman for the third consecutive year. Jude said, “The success of Irau Aco Lun Bawang relies a lot on sponsorship as being a self funded program. We invite corporate partners to participate and leverage this as part of their community engagement. Aside from arts and culture, brand activation can also be explored through other aspects like sports, women and youth. As we aim to be inclusive for all to celebrate, it will be a synonymous branding exercise especially catered for the northern region of Sarawak.” Kicking off the 2024 festival, the search for Ruran Ulung and Padan Liu Burung competition for Lun Bawang’s beauty pageant for the ladies and warrior contest for the men, has opened its registration which offers total cash prizes worth RM20,000. Enrollment to participate is open to Lun Bawang descent across Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia with registration closing by 30 April 2024. click here For more information and highlights, follow Irau Acu Lun Bawang on Facebook and Instagram. For sponsorship and partnership inquiry, contact Jude Benjamin Lisa at 017 877 3871. READ ABOUT PREVIOUS LUN BAWAN HERE

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The annual 2016 Lun Bawang Festival, known as the Irau Aco Lun Bawang, was held 3-4 June in Lawas. Organised by the Lun Bawang Association of Sarawak, the festival gathered more than 23,000 visitors at several location in Lawas including Gaya Baru, Long Tuma, Long Sebangang Baru, Tang Itong and Taman Awam Lawas. This year, the festival makes a comeback to Lawas town after it was held outside of the town in the last two years: Ba’ Kelalan in 2014 and Long Tuan, Trusan in 2015. The centre of attraction was held along the Lawas Damit Road where sporting activities such as futsal, volleyball, badminton and road run was held while the opening ceremony and main stage cultural performances was held in Lawas town. “The Association is able to organise this festival successfully for its community. Through this Festival, we foster our ties closer with one another and also other tribes within the state through sporting activities. My sincere gratitude to the state government and tourism office for their continuous support,” said Ipoi Datan, President of Lun Bawang Association Sarawak at the opening ceremony. The Festival was officially launched by YB Dr Haji Abdul Rahman Sulaiman, Assistant Minister for Welfare and Community Wellbeing Sarawak and also witnessed by YB Dato’ Henry Sum Agong, P.222 Lawas, YB Baru Bian, N.81 Ba Kelalan and the Lun Bawang community leaders. The highlight of the Festival is the crowning of the annual search for Ruran Ulung and Padan Liu Burung, the beauty pageant and warrior contest. This year saw 40 delegates competing for the prize title worth more than RM15,000. Prize sponsors include Stayfree, ZALORA, Kiss Me, Moist Diane, Watsons, Ran & Nong Creations and Lepo Maria. Angela Maria Frank from Gaya Baru representing Lawas Damit came out top in the Ruran Ulung category while Octavien Pagag from Puneng Berayong representing Kuala Lumpur won the Padan Liu Burung category. Both winners received RM1,500 cash, trophy, certificate and product hampers from all sponsors. Angela, a physical education and science teacher at Seri Omega International and Private School in Johor said, “This win was unexpected because the competition was tough this year as compared to previous years. But I thank God for this win and I look forward to my reign and supporting the Association’s Youth wing activities.” Meanwhile Octavien who recently graduated with Business Management studies in Kuala Lumpur was overjoyed with his win. “I participated this year because of my interest in learning and preserving our unique culture and identity. In preparation for this competition, I have learned more about our heritage,” Octavien said after the prize giving ceremony. More than 10 subsidiary titles were given out to deserving delegates. Miss Stayfree subsidiary title was given to the Ruran Ulung candidate who portrayed confidence throughout the competition, and this was awarded to Kaith Princess Reyes Jettle from Long Pasia representing Limbang. She received RM1,000 cash from Stayfree. Other subsidiary awards include Miss and Mister ZALORA, Miss and Mister Popular, Miss and Mister Talent, Miss and Mister Tourism, Miss and Mister Photogenic. During the Festival period, the 40 delegates for Ruran Ulung and Padan Liu Burung attended a motivational workshop led by Joshua O’neill from Federation University of Australia-Malaysia. The delegates also toured at the Ceramic Beads Centre in Long Tuma where the Lun Bawang beads were produced since 1991 at the centre. The Lun Bawang, well known for its rich culture and heritage, also held the annual bamboo band competition which saw the bamboo band from Long Tuma as the winner. Second place went to the Long Sukang bamboo band while third place was Trusan Tengah bamboo band. “We are glad to present this Festival every year especially for the Lun Bawang community and Lawas people. And it would have not happened with the strong support from our partners and sponsors. We look forward to the coming year and welcome interested parties to participate in this unique and colourful festival,” said Daneil Punang, Organizing Chairman of the Lun Bawang Festival. The Festival held annually in conjunction with the Gawai celebration was founded by the Association. This year marks the 29th year of the Festival and was supported by the Sarawak government. Main sponsors include Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, Ministry Tourism Sarawak, Museum Sarawak, Cahaya Mata Sarawak, Sarawak Energy Berhad, YB Datuk Fadillah Yusuf, YB Datuk Henry Sum Agong, PERSAFE, Lun Bawang community leaders, Pagaya Sdn Bhd, Times Advertising, Ritan Enterprise, Stayfree, Agong Upai, Richard Silo and DP Café. For more information, please contact Jude Benjamin Lisa by email: lisa.judebenjamin@gmail.com

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LAWAS, SARAWAK: The Youth Wing of Lun Bawang Association Sarawak is proud to present the annual search for Ruran Ulung and Padan Liu Burung, an annual beauty pageant and warrior contest schedule to be held in conjunction with the annual Lun Bawang Festival in Lawas, Sarawak. The annual search is scheduled to be held on 3 and 4 June 2016 at Dataran Bandar Lawas, Lawas and invitation to participate is open to all Lun Bawang descendent from Sarawak, Sabah, Semenanjung Malaysia, Brunei and Kalimantan, Indonesia. “The Ruran Ulung and Padan Liu Burung has always been the major highlight and attraction of the Lun Bawang Festival which has been held annually for the last 29 years. We hope this year, more and more young Lun Bawang would participate in this contest and all the activities organised during the festival as the focus this year is for the young Lun Bawang in the community,” said Petrus Lasong, Youth Wing Chairman, Lun Bawang Association Sarawak. The registration for Ruran Ulung and Padan Liu Burung is now open and can be made through online made available on the official Facebook page „Ruran Ulung & Padan Liu Burung‟. Invitation also has been sent to the Association branches across the country and the region to send representatives in the annual search which will offer RM10,000 worth of prizes. Aside from the main prize, participants can also look forward to win subsidiary titles including Miss/Mister Tourism, Miss/Mister Talent and Miss/Mister Photogenic. The overall winner is not just judged based on beauty and physical appearance but also knowledge on Lun Bawang’s culture and heritage. “This year we hope corporate bodies would come in and join forces with us to organise this event as a platform to engage closer to the public. Sponsorship in terms of monetary and even scholarships to pursue tertiary education is most welcome to provide support to this young indigenous tribe of Sarawak,” said Jude Benjamin Lisa, Organising Chairman of Ruran Ulung and Padan Liu Burung 2016. Registration entry closing is on 25 April 2016. For sponsorship opportunity, contact Jude Benjamin Lisa at lisa.judebenjamin@gmail.com or mobile +60 178773871 ABOUT LUN BAWANG ASSOCIATION SARAWAK The Lun Bawang Association Sarawak is a non-governmental organization registered with the Registrar of Society and responsible to promote self help and cooperation among its members and the Lun Bawang community. The Association also looks into providing assistance, donation and gifts to members in need and the Lun Bawang community as a whole. The Association establishes the annual Lun Bawang Festival since 1985 to promote and preserve the culture, arts, music and unity amongst its members and the Lun Bawang community. Read about Lun Bawang Festival on http://sarawaktourism.com/sarawaks-lun-bawang-festival-irau-aco-lun-bawang/ Asian Itinerary has covered Lun Bawang, read the article on http://asianitinerary.com/lun-bawang-festivalirau-aco-lun-bawang/

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Lun Bawang Festival is a tradition of the Lun Bawang, one of the ethnic groups that can be found in the central-northern region of Sarawak called Lawas. Lun Bawang are categorized in Sarawak as Orang Ulu; apart from Sarawak, this ethnic groups can be found in other locations of Borneo such as Brunei, Sabah and West Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is for this reason they tend to get different names: Lun Dayeh or Lun Daye, Lun Lod, Lun Baa’ or Lun Tana Luun. During ancient times, this ethnic group practices traditional agriculture, and their animal husbandry includes rearing poultry, pigs and buffaloes. Lun Bawang people are also well respected hunters and fisherman. This ethnic group is connected to the Lun Bawang Festival, also known as ‘Irau Aco Lun Bawang’, a festival that was traditionally a celebration of rice harvesting. Modern times have nevertheless modified the festival, and nowadays celebrations include a showcase of a variety of Lun Bawang culture and events. Irau Aco Lun Bawang is held at Buduk Nur, Ba Kelalan, Lawas. According to Ipoi Datan, President of Sarawak Lun Bawang Association, the festival is an annual event celebrated by the Lun Bawang and conducted to gather family members and relatives. Ipoi Datan, who is also the Director of the Sarawak Museum, said the festival is held to introduce the Lun Bawang culture to the local community as well as abroad. This event used to be held at Lawas Town; however, this year Ba Kelalan has been chosen to host such event as the place offers a rich culture and beautifully preserved flora and fauna, a special place for those who love adventure. Ba Kelalan is known for the production of green apples, rice, for its salt processing and cold weather. It is 180 kilometers from Lawas Town and can only be reached via air transportation, MasWing light planes or four wheels cars. The 21 home-stays present at Buduk Nur cost around 70 Ringgit per night. Those adventurous enough to sleep in a tent can take advantage of the camping grounds, though you have to bring your own tent as well as sleeping bags since temperature in Ba Kelalan can drop considerably at night. During the three days of the event there will be various activities including ‘Ruran Ulung’, or beauty pageant contest, ‘Nguip Suling’ or bamboo musical instrument band, handicraft exhibitions, a traditional food festivals, cultural nights, tours and sports. Several Lun Bawang from Brunei, Sabah and also Kalimantan are expected to join the festival. Reading this article is a good start but it is not enough to be close to the Lun Bawang community, so please visit if you can. Pack your warm clothes and come to Lun Bawang land, where you can really feel the locals’ lifestyle.  I highly guarantee that you will enjoy the trip and the tour. GETTING THERE To get there by land, first you have to get to Kota Kinabalu, in Sabah (Malaysian Borneo). After that, take the Kota Kinabalu to Lawas Town bus, which should get you there in about 3 hours. Once in Lawas Town, contract a four wheels car (the ride should cost you around 70 Ringgit per way). For those who prefer flying, MasWing airline (www.maswings.com.my/en) has regular flights there from Miri. For more information on transportation, you can call Miss Evelyn and Mr. Daud at (+60) 85262019. For more information on Lun Bawang people, browse http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lun_Bawang Read Asian Itinerary news on the Lun Bawan annual beauty pageant and warrior contest on http://asianitinerary.com/lun-bawang-beauty-queen-and-headhunter-warrior/

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