The rich culture of Maldives is truly visible and experienced during Maldives festivals. A number festivals and special days are celebrated at this island that bring people together and give them reasons to enjoy and have fun with their family and friends. Exchange of gifts and sweets on these festivals make children more excited and thrilled about them. These carnivals also bring children an awareness of their country’s culture as they include different folk dances and traditional music with wooden instruments followed by feasts comprising of their traditional cuisines. All the religious as well as national occasions are celebrated and shared with same enthusiasm and feelings, with people enjoying together without any discrimination.

Ramadan is one the most important religious festivals on the Maldives. The ninth month is celebrated as Ramadan according to Muslim calendar. This festival includes fasting of a month for which even the working hours are altered. Apart from this Prophet’s Birthday, Kuda Id, and Eid-ul Al’h’aa are other important days that are celebrated across the island in full form and with all colors, fun and excitement. On the day of Kuda Id, all men and women start their day with an early visit to mosque to perform prayers after which everyone prepare a feast for their friend and relatives. All schools held events on national days such as Republic Day and National Day and Independence Day and celebrate by organizing competitions and cultural programs. On the Independence Day large number of school children performs traditional folk dances at Republic Square. These national and religious days bring holidays for children and wash the streets with flag colors which depict the patriotism in their hearts.

Maldives vacations should include some time spent enjoying the dance and music which are the major source of enjoyment. These festivals call for drummers, musicians and dancers from all across the country to sing and dance and make these days memorable for everyone. Traditional folk dances and music symbolizes the country’s lively culture and fills heart with rhythm of their tradition. Almost all the events end with a feast. All type traditional and famous cuisines are prepared on these days to make them even more special. Sea food is a specialty of Maldives which becomes even more delicious and tempting during festivals. Foni boakiba (coconut milk and rice pudding), gula (fried fish balls with tuna and coconut), kiru Sarbat (sweet milk drink), and kuli boakiba (spicy fish cakes) are some of the common cuisines of Maldives which are the ‘must eat’ delicacies of each festival and event.

Bandiya Jehun is another way of celebrating festivals in Maldives. It is special way of entertainment in which a group of young Maldivian dances on the tune of metallic water pots, which is accompanied by a song. Raivaru recitation is yet another source of enjoyment, in which a poem is sung in a traditionally slow form.

Festival celebration unites natives and brings them close to their country, family and friends. Tourists can get the taste of true Maldivian culture and tradition during festivals. You can enjoy the best of Maldivian daces, music and food. In short, no Maldives vacation is complete without a taste of the local culture via Maldivian festivals.

Maldives is an island, due to which its culture is influenced by many nearby countries. Similarly the music of Maldives also has an influence of many nations such as Southern India, East Africa, Arabia and also Malaysia and Indonesia. This makes Maldivian music an indigenous combination of many cultures which has evolved over years of environmental and social effects. The music of Maldives not only consists of good lyrics and tunes, they also express hopes, love, feelings of its natives and their life style. Folk music is the real picture of Maldivian culture and tradition. Other than traditional music, Maldivian music also includes various forms of international music that has entered the island at different time during history.

The various different forms of dances and music that are enjoyed by Maldivian together to celebrate festivals and special events have helped them to stay united. The music keeps patriotism alive in their hearts. Some of the music and dances that represents its culture and marks its festivals and other events are:

Bodu Beru is the most famous type of Maldivian music, in which participants dance on the beats of drums. Generally, there is a lead singer who is accompanied by a group of 10-15 singers. The dance mainly consists of jerks, leaps and claps.

Bandiya Jehun is the next most popular form of dance and music in Maldives. It is a ‘women only’ form of folk dance in which the dancers carry metal water pots and move to the rhythm and tune of the music. This dance can be performed on both traditional and modern music.

Thaara is another form of Maldivian music which is performed by 22 people in two parallel rows facing each other. It is more of religious dance form where only men participate. Arabs introduced Thaara in the seventeenth century but now it can only be seen on national events.

Dhandijehun is a form of group dance performed only by men in special dresses. The dancers use a prop called ‘Dhandi’ and move to the tunes of the song. Here, dancers strike their sticks with their partner’s stick to dance.

Langiri is a modified form of Tharra. It is mostly enjoyed as an evening dance show where young men dances on the rhythm of music. This dance form also uses sticks which are clapped in different pattern with neighboring dancers. There is also a main singer who recites the lyrics and it usually lasts for six to seven songs.

Other form of Maldives music and dance includes Bolimalaafath neshun, Gaa Odi Lava, Maafathi neshun, Kulhudhuffushi and Fathigandu Jehun. All these forms of music and dance show the rich culture of Maldives. Each form of music has its own importance and origin in history. Some of them have slightly modified with time and have adapted to modern music. Tourists who are music and dance lovers must attend the cultural shows at Maldives. This will give you the flavor of real folk dances and traditional music which is influenced by a number of countries.