Maldives Culture and Lifestyle
Maldivian culture is heavily shaped by Indian, Sri Lankan, Malaysia, Arab, Persian, Indonesian and even African influences.
Fishing: Being an island country, the people of the Maldives are extremely dependent on fishing, and skipjack tuna has been heavily exploited. The Maldivian fishing fleet is made up almost entirely of small traditional fishing boats called dhonis.
Ramadan: The Maldives is a Sunni Muslim country and the holy month of Ramadan is observed every year. This month of fasting and prayer, celebrated by Muslims the world over, is strictly observed by the locals in this deeply religious country. But when it’s time to break fast, it’s a wonderful time to enjoy some local delicacies: kulhi mas (chili fish), fathu mashuni (Asian cabbage and tuna salad), and faloodha (a sweet drink made using rose syrup).
Traditional Education System: The traditional education system was mostly about literacy and religious study. The mother usually gave home tuition. A thin wooden box filled with sand was used to draw letters of the alphabet to practise at home, both the local language Dhivehi and Arabic. By the 1980s, traditional schooling was gradually replaced with Western-style schools. ag