The late Bobolian Aki Petrus Sator Gadut elaborated moginakan as a combination of the two Kadazandusun words moginum (drinking) and makan (eating) and so in simple term moginakan means feasting.

However in the context of the Post-Harvest Festival, moginakan has special cultural and spiritual significance to the Kadazandusuns. In its deepest meanings and purposes, moginakan incorporates the following elements of socio-spiritual acts: