2008 News Archive - Holidays - Take a holy-day in the Maldives
08 11 2007
Visitors to the Maldives in January will be able to watch one of the longest and most fascinating public holidays observed by the island nation.
Hajj, Bodu Eid and the three days that follow - celebrated based on the lunar calendar - mark out one of the most important periods for Muslims.
In the Maldives, this time is celebrated by feasting, visiting family and taking part in a variety of entertaining pusuits.
Folk dancing, singing, decorating and playing Eid games are some of the activities which locals take part in during the holy time. Prayer and family time are also at the heart of the celebrations.
Holiday-makers may be able to sample some of the delicious and exotic dishes of Maldivian cuisine, which include gula (fried fish balls with tuna and coconut), foni boakiba (a rice pudding) and kuli boakiba (spicy fish cakes).
The Maldives are made up of almost 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean.