Explore the Vibrant Tapestry: 5 Cultural Celebrations You Can't Miss in the Maldives

Considered one of the most important religious festivals, Ramadan brings families and friends together to reflect, meditate and essentially, engage in a period of fasting lasting 30 days. However, Ramadan is marked by magnificent feasts where delicious meals are prepared and indulged in to one’s heart’s content. Further, while travelling during such a festival can be quite restrictive from a foreign national’s point of view, nothing ought to deter you from joining in the festive spirit and partaking in a home-cooked meal.

Held to commemorate the end of Ramadan, the 3-day celebration titled Kuda Eid Festival is one of the island nation’s most revered occasions. Comprising ritualistic practices that include praying at local mosques, giving alms to the poor and seeking divine blessings, Kuda Eid Festival witnesses locals decorating their homes and cooking up tasty treats to be shared among loved ones. Moreover, people living on the rural islands in the archipelago are known to perform their own dance acts as part of a tradition which is very much at the center of a nation’s legacy.

Also, called ‘Mawlid un-Nabi,’ Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday is a significant moment in the Islamic calendar and a cause for celebration and merrymaking in countries such as the Maldives. While consuming large quantities of food is a given, what makes the birthday of the holy prophet all the more laudable can be credited to how Maldivians utilise their time across a number of charitable initiatives such as feeding and giving money to the less privileged. Street processions and community gatherings where stories of Muhammad’s life are narrated feature prominently during such a time.

From an outpouring of emotions across various public festivals in the form of cultural events and street carnivals, the sharing of meals among members of a family to embarking on pilgrimages to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia; Eid-ul-Al’h’aa is a religious festival that you must not miss out on. In fact, you may easily enjoy the sports competitions that are organised during this celebration that revolve around the traditional Maldivian sport of balibala.

Given how important the fishing trade is to the local economy, it should come as no surprise that the country has its own festival that honours the tireless efforts of the fishing communities. As an annual festival held on the 10th of December each year, Fisherman’s Day allows visitors including those based at Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives which provides accommodation within villas in Maldives with a chance to appreciate the nuances of the islander lifestyle. Learn of the traditional fishing methods employed in the seas off Maldives and look forward to tucking into flavourful fish dishes that feature frigate mackerel and skipjack tuna as their chief ingredient.