Maize Festival @ Pesta Jagung

The Pesta Jagung or maize fesival is held in the district of Kota Marudu, about 130 km or two hours drive from Kota Kinabalu. Just like other agriculture-based celebrations, this fest promises to be another exciting event that should not be missed by any visitor to Sabah.

Maize or jagung is one of the many agricultural products in the state that has provided an important economic contribution to the lives of mainly the Kadazandusun communities in Kota Marudu. This event serves to highlight the significance of this plant to the people. Of course there will be plenty of fun too with jagung cooking and planting competitions, cultural shows and the Jagung Fashion Queen!

So visit this district to join in the excitement and discover the unique lives of the people of Kota Marudu.

Kaamatan Festival

Kaamatan festival is an annual event in the cultural life of the Kadazandusuns of Sabah since time immemorial. In its deepest sense, Kaamatan festival is a manifestation of Creator and Creation relationship, as well as Inter-Creations relationship. It embodies the principal acts of invocation of divinities, appeasing, purification and restoration, re-union of benevolent spirits, and thanksgiving to the Source of All. It is part of a complex wholesome Momolian religious system centered on the paddy rites of passage and the life cycle of Bambarayon - the in-dwelling spirit of paddy.

Appeasing is done in respect of Bambarayon, Deities, Divinities and Spirits, who may have been hurt by human wrongful, acts. Purification is performed in respect of human and spiritual needs for forgiveness followed by resolutions to make themselves worthy of the gifts of life from God. Restoration in necessary to ensure the health and well being of sunduans, mankind and other spiritual beings. Re-union is realised in respect of human needs to be integrated in body, mind and spirit within the concept of the seven-in-one divinity in humanity, as well as re-union of Bambarayon with human Sunduan. Finally Thanksgiving is observed as befitting for all creations to express their gratitude and appreciation for the gifts of life (through Huminodun) and all life supportive system on earth that their Creator lovingly and generously gave them.