The Culture, Traditions, and Heritage of Maldives

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The culture of Maldives has the influences of its neighbor countries especially Sri Lanka and India and the countries bordering the Indian Ocean such as East Africa and the Arab world. As its national language Dhivehi is an integral part of the country’s culture, so its state religion Islam is an inseparable part. The language is of Indo-Iranian Sanskritic origin influenced by the Northern sub-continent. Its legends about the religion, having been brought from the sub-continent run similar to those in Sri Lanka, although the latter is said to have no existing record about the religious origin.

The influences of many countries on the country’s culture are evident in its dance forms and music and instruments that make this music. Bulbul has remained a favorite musical instrument. It is a kind of horizontal accordion usually accompanying devotional or religious songs such as maulud and maadhaha. The bodu beru, which means “big drum,” consists of songs and dances by the common people, which are now part of entertainment in stage shows, festivals and national celebrations, the most popular of which are those with participants in carnival costumes that depict sea creatures, ghosts and even evil spirits.

Forms of traditional music and dance include Gaa Odi Lava, which is performed by a group of people to express satisfaction and gratitude for having done a hard manual work; thaara or tambourine performed by 22 people seated in two parallel rows facing each other; and bandiyaa, which is performed by women.

The country’s arts and crafts are expressed mostly in stone carvings and weaving. One can see beautifully carved tombstones in old cemeteries, or stone carvings of the Hukuru Miskiiy in Male, which is only some of the proofs of the intricate skills of the country’s stone carvers. Most of dhonis or boats used for fishing and transport are also made by the best craftsmen of the country. Distinctive handicrafts are also produced in various parts of the islands, especially on Baa Atoll and Gaafu Dhaadu Atoll.