The Maldives
The paradise on earth
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Culture
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The islands of Maldives appear in-between the trading route of the Indian Ocean.
Thus settlers, and visitors from neighbouring regions and around the world have
come in contact with the islands for as long as history has been recorded. Such
is the to-and-fro flow of people and their cultures, that a marked effect has been
left in the Maldivian people, the language, beliefs, arts, and attitudes.
The looks of the Maldivian people may differ from one atoll to the other, attributing
to the genes passed on by South and Southeast Asians, Africans, and Arabians. The
language, Dhivehi, differs in dialect in some regions in the south of Maldives,
possibly due to the secluded nature and subsistent ways of island life. Maldivian
beliefs have been very much based around religion and superstition, often used together
in matters of significance but given separate positions in society. In matters of
faith, Islam dominates, but influence of the supernatural still continues to play
a major role in most island communities, possibly giving credit to the folklores
and Buddhist traditions of the islands’ first settlers before conversion to Islam
in 1153 AD.
The mixing of cultures is very much seen in Maldivian arts. The music played with
the local bodu-beru (big-drum) resemble that of African drumming. The dhoni (a unique
Maldivian sailboat) is an art form itself built with skilled craftsmanship, with
significant similarities to the Arabian dows. The fine artistry of Maldivians, seen
in the intricate details on wooden beams in antique mosques, represents what we
have gained from Southeast Asian architecture. Then there is the undefined: the
distinct geometric designs used in mats woven from local materials, the embroidered
neckline of women’s traditional dresses and their ornaments too, expose another
story brought in from an unknown culture that has seeped in to Maldivian society.
Maldivians are quite open to adaptation and are generally welcoming to outside inspiration.
The culture has always continued to evolve with the times. Locals still eat fish
and fishermen still spend days out at sea, but tourism now takes a standing prominence.
Most Maldivians still want to believe in upholding unity and oneness in faith, but
recent waves of reform in the country have created a whole new culture of new ideas
and attitudes. The effects of the modern world are now embraced, while still striving
to uphold the people’s identity, traditions and beliefs.
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