Joanna James
After being ruled by the British, Portuguese, Sultans, and the Dutch, Maldives finally got its independence on the 26th of July in 1965, and celebrates the day with pride every year.
Maldives has a rich and violent history of being invaded by many powerful nations and pirates. After 15 years of being under the Portuguese control, the British came and took over. Even after the World War II, when most countries got their freedom, Maldives still remained its Protectorate. The British began their ruling in 1887 and continued being the governance until 1965. In 1968, Maldives became a republic and therefore, they have another national holiday to celebrate their Republic Day.
The British took over the country in 1887 and made an agreement with its officials that they wouldn't interfere much in the internal country affairs but when it came to external affairs, they'd take charge. As an exchange of the goodwill in the agreement, the British made sure the island was well protected from the colonial invasion. After a lot of struggle and tough days, the island got its independence in 1965.
The Independence Day is one of the most important days in Maldives and is celebrated with gusto. The Republic Square hosts the day's functions and everyone participates happily as it is a nationwide holiday too. The celebrations begin with parades and processions that showcase the traditional and modern values of the island. At the end of the day is an entertaining fun night out for everyone. If you are planning on staying at one of the Maldives five star hotels, you can always visit the celebrations on a speedboat as some resorts provide the service on request, like the Adaaran Prestige Vadoo, for example.
The National Cadet Corps start the events off with a march past and is followed by the National Security Service. Modern drills, dances, traditional acts and more are performed by school and college students. Colourful garments and traditional outfits can be seen on every performer and it is indeed a sight that will have you amazed.
Being the smallest country in Asia, Maldives has a population of about 393,500 people and is also one of the most geographically dispersed countries in the world. Male in the capital city of Maldives and is the most populated city in the country too. Most of the other islands are used for tourism and not by the residents. Islam has been the national religion of Maldives since the 12th century and the people of Maldives take their traditions and religious customs seriously. Even with tourism and fishing being the biggest sources of income, Maldives is still on the list of least developed countries in the world.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
