EXPERIENCE MALAYSIA WITH SABAH’S REGATTA LEPA

For most of the year, Semporna is a quiet fishing village. It’s happy and friendly inhabitants live in their houses on stilts built on the bay, and spend most of their lives practicing their traditional art of making lepas or boats. But come April, the muddy streets of Semporna, Sabah in Borneo (Malaysia) don a very different look. The motorbikes, cycles and other vehicles plying the roads give way to wooden stalls loaded with goodies – from scarves for the local Muslim women to toys for children and a mouthwatering array of seafood. This is carnival time in Semporna, a time of the Regatta Lepa, a festival that honours the traditional art of making beautiful lepas.

The water festival

The Regatta Lepa of Semporna, Sabah, is a festival of its Bajau Palau people who are known for their craftsmanship. These are single-masted sailing boats made from Red Saraya wood that is quite different from regular boats, even the popular long tail boats of Thailand. Lepas are often decorated with unique carvings and bear colourful sails and tapis (small flags). The regatta tradition began in the early 1990s and has been a major festival ever since. It is also a great tourist draw for the area which is otherwise best known for its spectacular diving sites.

A splashing good time

Spread over two days, the Regatta Lepa is packed with fun and activities. From traditional dance and music to rowing competitions; there is a lot going on. The first day is usually a time for feasting and shopping with people from the area and several surrounding towns and villages thronging its streets and stalls. They also witness breathtaking cultural performances by the Bajau at night. The second day is the one when the real action takes place with all the crowds moving to the sapphire waters of the bay. The fun usually begins with some rowing and sailing competitions, as well as group canoe competitions. Later, there is swimming, duck catching and even a lepa tug of war contest. What everyone waits with bated breath for, however, is the grand regatta.

Photo Credit: udeyismail / Wikimedia

Sail into the sea

The regatta sees elaborately decorated lepas sail into the waters. On board are beautiful women in traditional garments with long glittering nails and elaborate head gears, dancing to the tunes of gongs and drums played by a band also on board each boat. These troupes add to the spectacle as the lepas are judged not only on the basis of their beautiful carvings, paintings, sails and flags but also on the beauty and grace of its dancing women and its musicians. Amidst raucous cheering, loud encouragement and fantastic revelry, the lepas sail around the bay giving tourists and locals a real feast for the eyes. They also make for some spectacular photo ops. As the regatta draws to a close, people shift their attention to the loaded food and drink stalls and participate in the singing and dancing that is held alongside.

A great way to experience one of the most beautiful and unique ethnic traditions of this tropical paradise, the Regatta Lepa is a great time to visit Malaysia. Once you are through with the festivities, you can always head out for some superb snorkeling and diving.

Predictably, this is also a very crowded and busy time in Sabah and those wishing to be part of it must make their hotel bookings well in advance.

So, now that you know what’s on offer, book your flights at MakeMyTrip today! Malaysia ahoy!