Unduk Ngadau 2011

Unduk Ngadau is a beauty pageant held during the Kaamatan cultural event normally held in Sabah, Malaysia. The title comes from the ethnic word Runduk Tadau which means 'the girl crowned by sunlight' Unduk Ngadau is one of the most recognizable cultural events in Sabah and the beauty pageant is unique to the state. In Rungus Language, Runduk means communicate in not understood language, and Tadau means Sun, so Unduk Ngadau means that a spiritual event to communicates with Sundu(Kinorohingan) for request sunlight.

This event held to pay respect to Huminodun, the sacrificed daughter of the Kadazandusun spirits Kinorohingan and Suminodun. It is believed that she was the one who taught the priestesses, known as locally as Bobohizans their ritual mantras which exist today.

Every year, contestants are selected in the state-level pageants and there will be one winner for their district's pageant. However, some districts hold joint pageants which produce more than one state-level contestant. After the district level, each of the finalist then move on to the state-level pageant which is held on the 31st of May each year at the Hongkod Koisaan building or KDCA in Penampang, Kota Kinabalu. This is the main highlight and ending point of the month long Kaamatan celebrations.

I was very excited to join this event not because of photography contest, but get the chance to see all photographer sharing in this event. This event held at Kg. Tass, Ranggu, Tawau. It's preliminary round before compete for districts. Unduk Ngadau for districts will be held on 15 May 2011 at Easten Plaza in which the contestant will compete to win the chance for state-level Unduk Ngadau. All this event was proudly organized and sponsor by Mustwin Venture Sdn. Bhd. Thank you Mustwin.