While fine art practices, primarily drawing and painting exists in the Maldives, in the Maldivian context the word “art
While fine art practices, primarily drawing and painting exists in the Maldives, in the Maldivian context the word “art
There are a number of dance forms in Maldives. Over centuries of interaction between cultures on the shores of Maldives, the nation has developed a number of dances.
Bodu Beru: Bodu beru is one of the most popular forms of folk music and dance in Maldives. Participation in Bodu Beru folk music transcends the barriers of age. In Bodu Beru, there is one lead singer and a band of 10-15 people, who sing in chorus and play an assortment of percussion instruments. As the song continues, the rhythm picks up and people come out of the troupe and dance to the tunes of the music. Spectators join to clap and dance. Bodu beru is a tribal dance that usually takes place during most festive occasions. The date the dance was introduced to the country by African slaves from East Africa ranges from the 12th to the 19th century. (Kirsten Ellis and Sansoni 1992)
During the reign of King Mueenuddeen I these slaves were liberated and sent to Feridhoo in Alif-Alif Atoll. It is believed that Boduberu spread out from there to become one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the country. The musical instruments that are used consist of three or four drums made from hollowed coconut wood made in the form of small barrels with both ends sealed with goat hide or manta ray skin.
Please click here to watch a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UktiIhFpmIY
Bandiyaa Jehun Dance: Bandiyaa Jehun is a popular dance form that takes place in the Maldives Island. Much like the Indian pot dance, women carry metal water pots as props to sing and dance to the tune of music. Performers sing and dance to melodious tunes while taping the rhythm on the pots with rings worn on the fingers. Usually, women wear a long skirt and a blouse called Dhigu hedhun. Over the years the dance form and the accompanying accessory have been modified.
Please click here to watch a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aGX27pOAdQ
Bolimalaafath Neshun Folk Dance: Bolimalaafath Neshun is performed by women. It represents the old tradition, when women used to offer presents to the Sultan on special festive occasions such as Eid. Usually, the gifts basket, which consists of shells, is kept in a small beautifully decorated vase called Kurandi Malaafath. The women carrying thevase also wear brightly colored dresses. The dance usually has about 24 performers.
Dhandi Jehun Folk Dance: Dhandi Jehun is a popular dance form performed by a group of around 30 people. The dance style differs in each atoll. The dance consists of a lead singer, who usually sings the “Thaara” songs or “Unbaa” songs, while other group members sing in chorus and dance to the beat of the song. Each performer holds sticks called Dhandi, which he strikes to the Dhandi of the performer facing him in accordance to the beat of the music. Women performers use shorter sticks and move to faster beats, the men use only one piece of stick which is about three feet long and move to slower music. This is mostly performed to celebrate festive events such as Eid and other national occasions.
Kadhaa Maali Folk Dance: This dance form only survives in Kulhudhuffushi in the south Thiladhunmathi atoll. Kadhaa Maali is initiated by beating of drums, and a Kadhaa –consisting of a copper plate and a copper rod. The dance is associated with the warding off of evil spirits associated with terrible sickness and epidemics prevalent in the island community. About 30 men dressed in different costumes dance to the drums. Their garments exhibit various ghostly figures and evil spirits. It is these ghosts or the evil spirits that are addressed as “Maali”. The dance did not develop in isolation. Traditionally, a congregation of the elders of the island would practice a late night walk around the island to ward off the evil spirits. The midnight walking usually began after the late evening prayer, and would continue for three consecutive nights and on the third night as to mark the end of the working the island community would engage in different types of music and dancing. This ritual was a prelude to Kadhaa maali.
For more information on the dance form of Maldives please visit the following sites:
http://www.letsgomaldives.com/maldives/music-dance.html
http://www.visitmaldives.info/maldives-music-a-dance.html
http://www.themaldives.net/culture/music/dhandi-jehun.html
Citation
Kirsten Ellis, and Dominic Sansoni. The Maldives: Paradise Isle of the Indian Ocean. McGraw-Hill, 1992.
With the screening of “Thin Fiyavalhu
The history of literature in the Maldives goes back centuries. The most ancient evidence of written text in Maldives is the copper plates grants or L
Maldives cuisine is characterized by its use of coconuts, fish and starches. As a result of cultural overlays Maldives has picked up on various culinary features from across the world especially India and Sri Lanka. Fish and rice are the staple foods of Maldives with meat and chicken eaten only on special occasions. National dishes include fried fish, fish curry, and fish soup. Curries are usually eaten with steamed rice or with roshi. A number of vegetarian options are also available, curry using eggplant, pumpkin, and unripe banana function as the main ingredients. Arecanut is used as an after dinner mint. The recorded history of the Maldivian gastronomy goes back centuries. Ibn Battuta, the famous traveller, wrote about the use and importance of the coconut tree to people and tradition of Maldives in his work The Rehla of Ibn Battuta – India, Maldive Islands and Ceylon, during this travel in the area in the 14th century. To read the text click here: http://www.maldivesculture.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=202&Itemid=74) Desserts like Banbukeyo Bondibai, Dhonkeyo Kajuru are also very popular in the Maldives. Photo Source: http://www.heymaldives.com For a video presentation of Maldivan food please click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfCcGGs77gE More information on food from Maldives here: http://ccfoodtravel.com/2011/10/male-and-hulhumale-maldives/ Maldivian dishes have been enjoyed by Maldivians and visitors over centuries. Maldivian food provides a healthy and delicious option for the palate. To learn how to cook Maldivian food please click here: http://www.maldivescook.com/
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The folk dress of Maldives is comfortable and adapted to suit well in the tropical weather; cotton being the material of choice. The women wear the Dhivehi libaas. The dress is more often than not adorned with gold and silver colored threads. The men wear Maldivian Sarong and full sleeve white shirts.
Photo Source: www.maldivesembassy.jp
The excavation conducted in the southern Maldives by H.C.P. Bell, the first Archaelogical Commissioner of neighboring Sri Lanka, during the early 1920’s provides a comprehensive report on the pre-Islamic tradition and culture of the Maldives. Bell, in his expedition, examined a ruined stupa in Foh Mulah, and excavated an extensive “sangharama
The Maldives lies in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Historically, it was famous for the cowry trade and as a transit point for seafarers crossing from East to West and vice versa. The initial settlers were from India, Sri Lanka, East Africa, Arabia, Persia and the western parts of the Malay Archipelago. The Maldives boasts a cultural fusion with a history that extends to 300 BCE, and an interesting interaction between different religions and importantly between Buddhism and Islam. The local people practiced Buddhism until the conversion Islam in 1153 CE. Construction in ancient Maldives was mainly dependent on the local availability of materials. Coral stone and timber were the only long lasting materials available and coral stone became the primary building material for monumental buildings. Live reef coral boulders or Porite corals are removed from the seabed, cut to stone blocks while they are soft and air-dried-before it gets used for construction. They were highly suitable for architectural and sculptural works. Coral stone construction methods or coral carpentry existed as early as the Buddhist period and continued until the introduction of masonry in the late 18th century. Coral stone mosques were most outstanding in their design, decoration and grandness. The walls of the mosques are built of finely shaped interlocking coral blocks. The amount of detail and decoration that goes into these buildings simply displays the extent of the skill of the local people. It can be concluded that stone construction in Maldives became more refined during the Islamic period and the stone building and especially stone carving techniques of the east African Swahili region influenced the already developed techniques of the Buddhist period. It is the fusion of these cultures that led to the emergence of new techniques which is seen in the coral stone mosques in Maldives. For a detailed look into Maldives and UNESCO please click here: http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/MV/ Friday Mosque, Ihavandhoo, Haa Alifu Atoll The Friday Mosque in the island of Ihavandhoo was built in 16 December 1701 CE (15 Rajab 1113 A. H.) during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim Muzhiruddin (1701- 1705 CE) and continues to be used as a mosque. The complex consists of the mosque building, a short minaret, an octagonal water well, a mausoleum and the tombstones of the cemetery. Friday Mosque, Meedhoo, Raa Atoll The Friday mosque in the island of Meedhoo is believed to be 300 years old and estimated that it was built around 1705 CE during the reign of the first Sultan from Dhiyamigili Dynasty, Sultan Muzaffar Mohamed Imaduddin II (1704- 1721 CE) and continues its use as a mosque till today. It is an example of a coral stone mosque with Dhaalas and Mihrab chamber. The quality of coral workmanship and interior calligraphy is as high as many other mosques and very well maintained. The mosque is a typical small mosque with prayer hall, Mihrab Chamber and side “Dhaalas” or verandah like antechambers on three sides.
Friday Mosque, Malé, Kaafu Atoll The Friday Mosque in Malé is the most important heritage site of the country with continuous use from the time of construction. The mosque building is the biggest and one of the finest coral stone buildings in the world. In 2008 UNESCO included Malé Friday Mosque and its complex in their Tentative World Heritage List. Malé Friday Mosque is located in the capital island Malé, and was built in 1658 CE during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar I (1648- 1687 CE), replacing the original mosque built in 1153 by the first Muslim Sultan of Maldives, Sultan Mohamed Bin Abdullah. Eid Mosque, Malé, Kaafu Atoll
The Eid Mosque located in a congested area of the capital island Malé was built in 1815 during the reign of Al-Sultan Mohamed Muinuddin (1799- 1835 CE) replacing an older mosque built during the reign of Sultan Imaduddin (1620-1648 CE) and continues its use as a mosque till today. The historical writings of Hassan Thajuddeen indicate that in about 1815 CE (1230 A.H.), the old Eid Mosque was demolished and a new Eid Mosque was built. The present mosque complex has been reduced to the mosque building and a coral stone well.
Friday Mosque, Fenfushi, Alifu Dhaalu Atoll The Friday mosque in the island of Fenfushi was built between 1692-1701 CE during the reign of Sultan Mohamed of Dhevvadhu (1692-1701 CE) on the site of an earlier mosque built by Kallhukamanaa continues its use as a mosque till today. The mosque complex has a complete set of components including the mosque building, a unique coral stone bathing tank, coral stone wells, a sun dial, a large cemetery with tombstones of fine quality and a coral masonry boundary wall surrounding the mosque with two entrances. In front of the door there is a shrine that encloses a tomb which is said to be the tomb of this couple’s (the husband was Dhidhdhoo Kakuravathi Thakurufaanu) son Mathukkalaa.
Old Mosque, Isdhoo, Laamu Atoll
The Old mosque in the island of Isdhoo was built in 1701 CE during the reign of Sultan Ali VII and continues its use as a mosque till today. This is the mosque where the copper chronicles ‘Isdhoo Loamaafaanu’ (oldest historical writings found in Maldives) was kept. The mosque complex has the mosque building, old well and a cemetery with tombstones. This mosque is one of the finest surviving examples of a small coral stone mosque with “Dhaala Languages
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