Culture of the Maldives
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Since the Maldives embraced Islam in 1153,
it has been central to the life of Maldivians
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Ethnicity
Language
Family life
Religion
The origins of the Maldivian people are shrouded in mystery. The first
settlers may well have been from Sri Lanka and southern India. Some say Aryans,
who sailed in their reed boats from Lothal in the Indus Valley about 4000 years ago,
probably followed them. Archaeological evidence suggests the existence of Hinduism
and Buddhism before the country embraced Islam in 1153 AD. Not surprisingly,
the faces of today’s Maldivians display the features of various faces that inhabit
the lands around the Indian Ocean’s shipping and maritime routes, since the
Maldives has long been a melting pot for African, Arab and South-East Asian
seafarers and traders.
The language of the Maldivians is Dhivehi, a language of the Indro-Indian
group of languages. Dhivehi, with its roots in Sanskrit and possibly an ancient
form of Sinhala (Elu), is strongly influenced by the major languages of the region.
The language has been influenced heavily from Arabic, since the advent of Islam
in 1153, and English, in more recent times, especially since the introduction of
English as a medium of education in the early 1960s.
Given the wide dispersion of the country’s islands, it is not surprising that the
vocabulary and pronunciation vary from atoll to atoll, with the difference being
more significant in the dialects spoken in the southernmost atolls.
The Maldivian script, known as thaana, was invented during the 16th century soon
after the country was liberated from Portuguese rule. Unlike former scripts, thaana
is written from right to left. This was devised to accommodate Arabic words that are
frequently used in Dhivehi. There are 24 letters in the thaana alphabet.
The close-knit island communities practice mutual aid to survive difficult
circumstances. An extended family provides a safety net for members of a family
going through a difficult period. In addition to the parents, other members of
the family also contribute to the care of children. Traditionally, men go out
fishing during the day and women are responsible in looking after the family.
This remains so today in the smaller island communities.
Since the Maldives embraced Islam in 1153, it has been central to the life of Maldivians.
The main events and festivals of Maldivian life follow the Muslim Calendar. From infancy,
children are taught the Arabic alphabet. Religious education is provided both at home
and at school. Islam is part of the school curriculum and is taught concurrently with
other subjects.
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