Maldives Cultural Attractions
Maldives Cultural Attractions
Maldives Cultural Attractions : In addition to the beautiful Maldivian beaches and Marine life, Maldives Islands hosts enough attractions catering for the interests of various travelers such as historians, cultural enthusiasts, students and passionate travelers.
The local people of the Maldives are very welcoming and gentle people and at the same time, they are profoundly religious and extremely passionate about their traditions. As a result of the traditions and cultures on the islands, there are annual festivals, sacred sites and historical sites around the capital city – Malé and throughout the several Atolls of Maldives offering an inimitable cultural explosion to the visitors of the islands.
Tourists visiting the Maldives Islands especially Malé during religious and national holidays, get to experience and immerse themselves into ceremonies that are animated, lively and feature an abundance of delicious food, colorful attire and all-round entertainment.
These events are filled with vividness, reverence, music and dance, showcase a more colorful side of the islands, whereas, the ancient landmarks on the islands are testimony to the invaluable heritage of Maldives. These together are an insight into a nation whose inner soul is as beautiful as the stunning visible surroundings on the archipelago.
FESTIVALS OF THE MALDIVES
Maldives is an Islamic country and because of this, most of the Muslim festivals are celebrated on the islands with much enthusiasm and jubilation. Along with religious festivals, the residents of the islands take part in national holiday. These are occasions to mingle with each other and honor the birth of their nation.
RAMADAN
As an Islamic country, Ramadan is a significant religious festival in the Maldives. It consists of a 30-day fasting period and is hosted during the ninth month of the Muslim Calendar typically in August or September every year.
In the Ramadan, guests get to savor special foods during Ramadan. These special meals are served as part of the daily iftar – breaking of the fast in the evening.
INDIPENDENCE DAY
The Maldives celebrates their independence on 26th July, this is a public holiday honoring the 1965 treaty through which the nation regained control over the islands from the British. The Malé is the epicenter of most celebrations with processions by the National Security Services and National Cadets performances by school going children and fireworks at the end of the day.
KUDA EID
Kuda Eid is the last day of the Ramadan, this day is a grand affair when feasts occur in every house hold of the island. People begin the day with prayers at the mosque in the morning followed by visits to their families and friends.
Kuda Eid lasts for three days and it is a time full of merriment, tasty food and traditional dance performances.
PUBLIC DAY
The Maldives changed from being a monarchy to a republic in 1968, the nation now observes 11th November as its Republic Day. Revelries in the celebration of this say include parades with a marching band, children in colorful clothes and exclusive culinary delights such as masroshi, a pancake stuffed with fish and hakuru folhi – a coconut cake.
NATIONAL DAY
The National Day of the Maldives is held on he first day of Rabī’ al-Awwal, this day commemorates the victory of Mohammed Thakurufaanu over the Portuguese in 1573. This is a special day for the Maldivians and the festivities include parades on the streets of Malé and other few islands.
PROPHET’S BIRTHDAY
The 12th day of Rabī’ al-Awwal is when the locals celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad, this day is known as Mawlid and is a grand event with large processions in Malé and other prominent island cities.
This is an auspicious day and as a way of observing it, people give donations, decorate mosques, attend large gatherings where poets and literary greats recite sufi songs and stories about the Prophet.
MUSEUMS IN THE MALDIVES
Malé’s Museum are an ideal way to spend the rainy days on the Islands indoors, they are also essential educational destinations and act as windows that allow travelers have a glimpse into the vibrant history of the islands.
The inhabited islands also have smaller museums that highlight regional lifestyles, fishing culture and notable personalities.
NATIONAL MUSEUM
The National Museum of the Maldives is home to several age – old artifacts collected from various Maldivian islands, this Museum was inaugurated on 11th November 1952.
Buddhist era relics, ornaments from the palaces of the monarchs, Maldives’ first printing press, vintage weaponry, antique musical instruments and a skeleton of Longman’s beaked whale, the National Museum’s impressively diverse collection is an homage to the legacy of the country.
NATIONAL ART GALLERY
The National Art Gallery established in 1999 offers visitors an opportunity to appreciate the works of both Maldivian and international artists, the Gallery hosts several workshops and presentations for art lovers from time to time.
Utheemu Ganduvaru
This beautiful Museum is situated on the island of Utheemu, Utheemu Ganduvaru is wooden palace of Maldives’ beloved hero Mohammed Thakurufaanu and is an essential part of the island’s royal history.
On a guided tour of the property, you will encounter the elegant furnishings and portrays how the rich lived in the Maldives centuries ago.
Religious Sites in the Maldives
There are big and small mosques on most inhabited islands of the Maldives that important religious sites in the nation, some of the important in the Maldives that is because of their history, architecture or importance they hold for the islanders are as below
HUKURU MISKIIY
This is the oldest mosque in the Maldives as well as one of the most cherished structures in the nation boasting of delicate engravings and designs including scripts from the Quaran. Inside, the Old Friday Mosque has a 13th– century panel that depicts the arrival of Island on the islands.
Visiting the mosque for non – muslim visitors is possible with prior approval and only during non – prayer times.
KALHU VAKARU MOSQUE
This mosque famously known as the traveling mosque is the only structure in the Maldives to have been dismantled and re-built at another spot, the mosque moved from Malé to Furanafushi in the 1970s but was then brought back and is presently in Malé’s Rasrani Bageecha.
GRAND FRIDAY MOSQUE
This is the most significant religious site in the Maldives built-in 1984, the Grand Friday Mosque is a pre-eminent sight in Malé. The exteriors of the mosque are made of white marble and devoid of much design, the beautiful interior features wooden doors and panels and can hold 5000 worshippers.
Entry of tourists to this mosque is limited to non-prayer times and one has to be conservatively dressed to go inside.
TOMB OF MOHAMMED THAKURUFAANU
Situated next to Biguroazu Kamanaa Miskiiy is a tiny mosque in the center of Malé is the tomb of Mohammed Thakurufaanu. The Maldivian flag permanently flies next to the grave and the locals take great pride in this monument.
Tourists are encouraged to visit this most important historical site in the city.
AASAARI MISKIIY
This is the second oldest mosque in the Maldives situated on the island of Nilandhoo, many believe the mosque was constructed using stones from pre-Islamic religious sites. Its unique architecture consists of Arabic scriptures chiseled on the walks and elaborate woodwork.
MEDHU ZIYAARAIY SHRINE
The Tomb of Abdul Baraka Yusuf – al – Barbari who is responsible for bringing island to the Maldives, is in a beautiful vuilding close the Huruku Miskiiy. Several islanders visit the shrine regularly to pay their respects to the Moroccan scholar.
Archaeological Sites across the Maldives
Across the atolls of the Maldives, there are various archaeological sites visitors will encounter especially the Buddhist relics that are fascinating and help understand the nation’s religious temperament during its pre-Islamic era.
Thoddoo Buddhist Temple
This archaeological discovery was a Buddhist temple on the island of Thoddoo in the Alif Alif Atoll in 1950s, the site hosts several artifacts including a well-preserved statue of Buddha and Roman coins.
The site is popular with tourists and highlights the significance of Buddhism in Maldivian history.
Kuruhinna Tharaagandu
This archaeological site comprises the remains of a Buddhist monastery that dates back to the 7-8th century, from Malé it takes 2-4 hours to reach Kaashidhoo Island where the monastery is situated.
Vasho-Veyo
This an open-air circular bath made with Porities coral stone, this impressive piece of architecture represents volumes of the skills exhibited by the locals of Fuyamulah, visitors to the island will also get to visit a Buddhist Stupa, Fua Mulaki Hayitta that is unfortunately in ruins now.
