The Lom Plai tradition is rooted in an ancient legend from the Dayak Wehea community in East Kalimantan, centered on a period of devastating drought and famine. During this crisis, the community’s leader, Queen Diang Yung, received a divine message that only a supreme sacrifice could save her people. Her daughter, Princess Long Diang Yung, selflessly offered her life to restore the land. Following her sacrifice, the rains returned, and from the earth grew the first abundant rice crops, which the community believes are the physical manifestation of the Princess’s spirit.
Today, Lom Plai serves as a sacred harvest festival to honor this sacrifice and express gratitude to the Creator and nature. The multi-day celebration involves various rituals, such as the Enjiak Tembambataq dance, which symbolizes the joy of a successful harvest and the communal bond of the village. Beyond just a celebration of food, the tradition acts as a vital cultural pillar that reinforces the deep, spiritual connection between the Dayak Wehea people and the forest ecosystem that sustains them.