The most well-known festival in Sabah is Pesta Ka'amatan or Harvest Festival which begins on the first of May and celebrated throughout Sabah. In most Asian cultures, rice is regarded as an important staple food therefore most native Sabahans consider rice to be more important than any other food item.

Legend has it that rice was given to the natives by Kinoingan, the Almighty Creator so that his people should never want for food. He sacrificed His only daughter - Huminodun and from her body parts, padi (rice) grew. As this was Kinoingan’s ultimate act of benevolence, to this day His people reply the deed by conducting various ceremonies to honour Bambaazon, the spirit of Huminodun embodied in rice.

The most important aspect of this festival is the Magavau - a ritual to invite Bambaazon to the festival which can only be conducted by a Bobohizan or high priestess. The Kadazan word Magavau means to ‘recover what one has lost’ and festivities cannot proceed without the presence of Bambaazon and it is through Magavau that the Rice Spirit is invoked.

Events during this month long festival include the Unduk Ngadau Beauty Pageant. The term The term 'Unduk' literally means the shoot of a plant, which, in its most tangible description, signifies youth and progressiveness. Likewise, in its literal meaning, 'Ngadau' means the noon sun, which connotes the total beauty of the heart, mind and body of an ideal Kadazandusun woman. In essence therefore, the Unduk Ngadau is an event of selecting from among the Kadazandusun beauties one who would best resemble the ascribed personality of Huminodun.

Other activites to look out for during this period also include traditional sports such as buffalo racing, arm wrestling, blow pipe shooting, best tapai (local rice wine) competition, gong beating competition, traditional dance and stilt racing.

Today Pesta Ka'amatan has become a state-level affair and a vital platform and venue for fostering, preserving and propagating harmony and unity through diversity for the multi-ethnic, multi-racial population of Sabah.