Joanna James
Sugary white sands and azure blue waters may bring you to the idyllic Maldives, but the Indian Ocean island nation is also the host to an array of local festivities and celebrations just as fantastic as its fabled seaside. Come, savour a dose of colour, culture and heritage on your island getaway.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, marks arguably the most important and sacred time of the year for all Muslims around the world, and it is anything but different for the predominantly Islamic Maldives. Fasting is the salient highlight, where everyone observes fast from dawn to dusk for the entirety of Ramadan. The holy month is often described as a period of fasting, prayer, reflection, and, most importantly, community, where people contribute to the needy and less fortunate. Breaking fast is, without a doubt, the most looked forward to part of the day during Ramadan where friends and family come together every evening to share and enjoy meals at dusk.
After a month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting, Eid Al-Fitr — also known as Kuda Eid — marks the end of the month of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal — the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. Surely a day looked forward to by everybody, friends and family come together to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr by sharing masses of mouth-watering traditional Maldivian foods. Eid Al-Fitr in the Maldives is celebrated over the course of a 3-day public holiday.
After 77 long years as a British protectorate, July 26, 1965 marks the day when the South Asian nation gained its independence from the British Empire, establishing itself as a completely independent nation. Tourists vacationing in the archipelagic nation on July 26, enjoy the parades and processions galore celebrating Independence Day and retreat to a fine family beach villa with pools, including the likes of VARU by Atmosphere and call it a day.
For the Muslim-dominant Maldives, the third month of the Islamic calendar — Rabi' al-Awwal — is also of great significance as it is the month during which the Islamic prophet Muhammad is reported to have been born. Male, the bustling capital city of the island nation, comes alive with lively processions and festivals celebrating the birth of the founder of Islam. Mosques in the country also take a vibrance not present on other days, where recitations of famous poems and stories about the life of Prophet Muhammad are held.
1968 marks the year when the Indian Ocean island nation abolished its Sultanate and formed the republic — officially the Republic of Maldives. Come November 11th, every year, the country celebrates its Republic Day, and the same day every five years is also when the new Maldivian president is appointed. The capital city, Male, is taken over by parades and processions, and an assortment of local delicacies also come to life — masroshi and huni hakuru folhi being the most popular.
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.
