Every year there are two days that Maldivians desperately await, as they sit on the rope woven chairs they call Joalis, staring at the night sky. It is the new moon of the month Shaw’al and the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah in which Maldivians and all Muslims across the globe celebrate the holiday, Eid. There are two Eid’s in the Islamic lunar calendar, Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha, both celebrated widely but different in every community. Likewise, Maldive Eid Holidays are known for its unique cultural integration to the Islamic holiday, with unique practices that are vary depending on the social and political stand that year.
Eid begins early on the week before, with people swarming the markets to purchase new clothes and fabric for Eid. It is a practice of Sunnah, that those who can afford to wear new clothes on the day of Eid. Before the sun has fully risen, parents will be waking up their children and getting ready, not for work but for the auspicious Eid prayer. The prayer consists of a 30-60 minute long chant, which is the same chant used in the Hajj pilgrimage. There are a small prayer and a 20-minute lecture by an Islamic scholar. After the Eid prayer, everyone greets happily to the people they meet shaking their hand saying “Eid Mubarak”. There are no enemies, no grudges and no standards on Eid, everybody is equal and share their kindness to one another.
As all come home, the tables are set for the Eid Breakfast. It is a light snack mostly a drink known as ‘Sarubath’ and ‘Kulhi Boakiba’ are a traditional combination served at the breakfast. After breakfast is over, the smartest will change into regular clothes as the festival of ‘Fenkulhi’ may start at any moment. The youth fragment of the population usually would have the colours prepared, packed in small plastic bags and filled in tubs, they are more than ready to infiltrate the community with colours. With the first person to throw colour, an apocalyptic war begins in the community where there is no hesitation to whom you throw colour at. Whether it is the mayor, a teacher or the police, everybody is a victim and everybody is a culprit. Might as well enjoy it while you can, you do not want to be a snob.
After a swim in the waters, all the households begin cooking like wildfire. From curries to salads and different types of rice, the kitchen is a war zone with spices and pans being passed around everywhere. There are people running from one house to another if they run out of an ingredient like salt or pepper. With all the hassle, it still ends up beautifully served at the lunch table. Sharing food among the community is a very common practice, and small pots and pans of food will be served to neighbouring houses as an acct of kindness by Maldivians.
Tummies filled, the community then gathers at the main stage or the main street to watch the Eid Parade. Where there will be a practice known as ‘koadi kendun’ with African inspired costumes made from palm leaves and paint. There will also be a large fish made out of palm leaves similar to the Chinese dragon, where it will be pulled across the parade from the waters. Parade goers will also have ‘Maali’, a name for different types of costumes. If the person is named ‘Dhalhu Maali/ Can Maali” he will make a costume using empty cans. It all depends on the creativity of the parade goers, and every year the pop culture plays a huge role to inspire these costumes.
Eid ends with a large music festival in almost every island and resort. Comprising of local artists, and aspiring artists, these concerts can go on for three nights on Eid Al-Adha. ‘Koadi Kendun’ has an extensive version during Eid Al-Adha as this Eid consists of 3 extra consecutive public holidays, while Eid Al-Fitr consists of only two. Eid celebrations are the most unique, and traditional celebrations of the historic Maldivian culture that survived until the 21st century. So be sure to enjoy the weird authentic culture while you are present.
