KOTA KINABALU: The 26th annual Regatta Lepa, the colourful boat festival of Sabah's east coast Bajau Laut community, will be held over three days from Nov 17-19 at Dataran Regatta Lepa in Semporna.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the theme of this year's event was "Regatta Lepa: Lambang Perpaduan Masyarakat Madani” (Lepa Regatta: A Symbol of Unity in the Madani Community).
She said the Regatta Lepa is a celebration of the Bajau Laut people who are famous for their skill in making the traditional boats known as "lepa".
"Lepa is not just a boat, but a work of art that represents Semporna's heritage and cultural identity," she told a press conference here on Monday (Oct 23).
Liew said Semporna was one of Sabah's top tourist attractions for its islands and undersea beauty.
"It is one of the top destinations globally," she said, adding that Semporna was also rich in natural beauty, culture and history.
Liew said the main objective of Regatta Lepa was to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the Bajau community and foster stronger unity among its members.
"It also helps bring economic spin-offs by promoting Semporna as a growing cultural destination.
"This event also ensures the preservation of traditional boat making skills for future generations," she added.
Over the three days, the activities scheduled include the main attraction of sea sports and lepa displays, as well as ethnic dances, a choir competition and a lantern parade.
Liew said local and international artistes will perform on the final day, which will end with a fireworks display.
