By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: The 30th edition of the Regatta Lepa will be held this June, celebrating the maritime traditions of the Bajau community.
Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew said this year’s event will feature the identity, artistry and unity of Sabah’s diverse society themed “Mairan Addat Bangsa Ta,” meaning “Our Cultural Celebration.”
The festivities began on June 21 with a large-scale Igal dance performance involving 1,000 participants at Padang Bandar Semporna.
Dressed in traditional attire, the dancers moved in unison in a performance set to enter the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) as the most Igal dancers in a single event.
Liew described it as a proud testament to the vitality of local culture and the success of cooperation between communities, cultural advocates and government agencies.
On June 24, a symposium and workshop on Regatta Lepa will take place at the Tun Sakaran Museum.
The following day, June 25, will see the final round of the Ratu Lepa selection, Sangom Maglami-lami, highlighting the cultural refinement of Bajau women.
From June 27 to 29, government departments, artists and local entrepreneurs will join in a public exhibition of crafts, culture and services.
The main celebration, featuring the traditional lepa parade, will be held on June 29, showcasing elaborately decorated boats adorned with heritage carvings.
A joint presentation by the security forces and community members will also be staged.
That night, the official closing ceremony, known as Sangom Mairan, will feature prize-giving for Ratu Lepa and Lepa Parade winners, the presentation of the Regatta Lepa Personality Award, and a cultural lineup including Igal dance, the musical theatre Umaral 1886 based on a legendary Bajau seafarer, and the Da Suara community choir.
The night will close with a fireworks display and performances by local and national artistes.
Liew said the Sabah government is fully committed to strengthening culture-based events as part of its long-term tourism strategy.
Regatta Lepa, she added, is not only a tourism attraction, but also a platform to uphold identity, boost the local economy, and promote unity through shared traditions.
