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| | Need to Know | Capital City Male | | Tipping 10%
| | Electricity 220 V | | Weights and Measurements Metric system
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People & Language
Dhivehi is the local language. It’s a variation of Sinhalese and the script is derived from Arabic. English is widely used, especially by businessman and those in the tourism industry. You’re unlikely to run into someone who doesn’t speak English with visitor activity being restricted to select islands. Quite a few European languages are spoken on these islands.
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Religion
In 1153 AD all Maldivians converted to Islam. The story goes: once upon a time the islands belonged to a sun-worshipping people called the Redins. The Redins were a god-fearing society who obeyed the commands of the ruling spirits and lived by their strict code of superstitious beliefs and customs. However, often things would go wrong and this was due to the evil mischief making ‘jinnis’, the resident community of evil spirits. The Redins disappeared around 500BC but the jinnis continued on and one particularly nasty one, a sea-jinni called Rannamari demanded routine sacrifices of virgin girls. In 1153 the turning point came when Abu Al Barkat, a traveling Muslim Moor exorcised the jinni by reciting verses from the Koran at the sacrificial altar. That was when Maldivians converted to Islam and today the entire local population is Sunni Muslim.
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Food
Maldivians are mainly rice eaters. Fish is staple, curried or just fried. Mutton and chicken are reserved for special occasions. The local drink is a sweet alcoholic brew called Raa; it comes from the trunk of the palm tree.
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Culture & Crafts
Traditionally a sea-faring community, the Dhivehin place a lot of importance on harmony with nature. Most islanders are engaged in the fishing industry (and many have been recruited by the tourism industry which too is exceedingly sensitive to the environment.) Sun-worshippers till their mass conversion, Islam is only a millennium old here. It’s polite to use the greeting "assalam alaikum" and you will be considered appreciably sociable if you follow it up with "kihineh?" (‘How are you?’).
Strong African overtones colour the music of the Dhivehin. Bodu Beru i.e. Big Drum lends its name to the local song and dance routine. It begins with a slow lyrical swaying to slow thumping beats and builds up to furious crescendo.
Native crafts include wood and stone carving, boat building, mat weaving and jewellery crafting.
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