The Maldives, an archipelago of 26 coral atolls, is located in the northern part of the Indian Ocean. The population lives on 198 of the more than 1000 tiny islands. The climate is tropical and warm with seasons controlled by two annual monsoons.
Maldivians are Sunni Muslims. Culture is the result of a combination of Arabs, Sinhalese and South Indian influences.
Maldives weekends take place from Friday to Saturday, and government offices and banks are closed, and many shops are closed in the first half of Friday. This does not apply to resorts, except that Friday lunch hours are changed to Friday prayers.
Arabic language and culture influenced the Maldives from the 12th century AD, when the islands were connecting in the central Indian Ocean. This led to a long trade process between the Middle East and the Far East. Travelers from Somalia discovered gold on the island in the 13th century, before the Portuguese explored the area. Somalis ended their occupation after a bloody struggle called Dagai Deg Badaani, which occurred in 1424.
The influence of Europe and Africa is noticeable in the so-called borrowing and material culture.
Maldivians have some connections with North India, because their language is associated with North Indian languages. Many adult Maldivians enjoy Hindi movies and songs that affect popular Maldives songs. Bollywood songs are especially popular, and many local dances and songs influence North Indian songs and Katnak dances.
A typical Maldivian musical instrument is the bulbul, similar to a horizontal accordion. It is used to play such devoted songs as Maulud and Maadhaha. Bodu Beru, or the big drum, originates in Africa.
Traditional Maldives food focuses on coconuts, fish and starch. Coconut grated or compressed to get coconut milk deep fried in coconut oil. Grated coconut is prepared in ma-huni, and coconut milk is the main ingredient in curry. Tunnel tuna - favorite or fresh or dried. Other types of fish that are popular are yellow fin and frigate tuna, Bigeye shrub, Mahi-mahi, Mackerel and wahoo, all of which are processed or boiled. Cured tuna is used in short eats. Rihakuru, a tough brown tuna paste, is important in Maldivian cuisine. Starch is either rice that is crushed into flour or boiled, or tubers, such as sweet potatoes, taro and cassava, as well as fruits, such as pine wine and bread fruit. Blood and tubers boil and eat. Wine pine eaten raw. The most popular curry in Maldivian cuisine is the mash, which is cooked with tuna, recently cut into cubes. Chicken curry is cooked with various kinds of spices. Vegetable curries include eggplants, pumpkin and green bananas, as well as leaves. Some Maldivian fish are included in vegetable curries.
