The pingirih tradition is a custom practiced within the multicultural society of Sarawak. This tradition embodies the unique values of mutual cooperation and assistance within the daily activities of the Bidayuh community in the state. The pingirih custom is typically observed in activities related to house construction and agricultural work involving the cultivation of paddy, pepper, cocoa, and rubber, which are the main commodities of the Bidayuh community.

In other words, the pingirih tradition not only eases tasks but also helps lighten the workload and saves time in completing the work that the host is undertaking. Like the tradition of gotong-royong, pingirih activities are carried out collectively without any payment or wages.

PINGIRIH CONCEPT

When a family wishes to toban pingirih, meaning to host a pingirih, a notification and request are communicated to community members regarding the date, time, location, and type of work to be carried out. Typically, community members are always prepared in terms of time and resources for this purpose. On the specified date and time, the relevant community members will odi ngiri or come to contribute their skills and energy to complete the tasks and activities outlined by the pingirih organizer.

In certain circumstances, some community members who join the pingirih are those who have previously hosted a pingirih. They attend as an act of reciprocating the pingirih, known as odi rapas pingirih.

Participation in a pingirih is measured by the number of days a person contributes their labor. In certain cases, community members involved in the pingirih may request specific compensation from the organizer for their participation. Upon request, pingirih participants may be compensated with basic kitchen essentials such as rice, salt, and belacan (shrimp paste). In such situations, the agreement to provide compensation can be particularly helpful to community members facing challenges in securing basic food supplies.

Additionally, pingirih participants are typically family members and friends willing to support the organizer. If compensation cannot be provided immediately, the assistance given is regarded and remembered as a sincere act of kindness.

A hosted pingirih is not confined to a specific geographical area. It often involves nearly the entire village and sometimes neighboring villages as well. Thus, villagers consistently engage in pingirih-birumiek, or mutual assistance through pingirih. An example is pingirih ngutuom, a pingirih for rice harvesting, carried out in hopes of a bountiful harvest and to strengthen the sense of belonging within the community.

Essentially, reciprocating a pingirih (rapas pingirih) does not necessarily occur simultaneously with the activities of odi ngirih. Instead, it depends on the timing and needs of the reciprocation. Therefore, a pingirih organizer may request the assistance of others due to their specialized skills. In other words, a person’s involvement may be required due to their expertise in a particular task.