-
Author(s)
-
Ahmed, Farooq
-
Title
-
Maldivian Marriage Traditions in the Olden Days
-
Alternative Title
-
Kuree Dhuvasvarugai Kaiveni kurumuge Kanthah Onna Goiyy (ކުރީގެ ދުވަސްތަކުގައި ކައިވެނި ކުރުމުގެ ކަންތައް އޮންނަ ގޮތް)
-
Publication Type
-
Journal Article
-
Language
-
div
-
Number of Pages
-
4
-
Location
-
Maldives
-
Keywords
-
Marriage
-
Tradition
-
Maldives
-
Culture
-
Maldivians
-
Relevance to ICH Safeguarding
-
documentation
-
education
-
identification
-
transmission
-
ICH Genre
-
food culture
-
ecological knowledges and practices
-
social practices
-
Description
-
In traditional Maldivian culture, marriage followed two primary paths. One path involved a boy and girl of suitable age who fell in love and sought permission from their families to get married. The other path was more formal, with the parents of both parties taking the initiative to arrange the marriage with mutual consent. In both scenarios, the approval of both families was essential
-
if either side objected, the marriage would be canceled without question.
Once the decision to marry was made, the groom appointed two witnesses to visit the bride's home. There, the bride would formally request for her Meher, traditionally set at 1 Rufiyaa. Following this, the witnesses would approach Naibu Beykalu (judge or deputy to the judge) to facilitate the marriage. The Chief would schedule a time for the marriage registration ceremony, which took place at his house. The groom, with his witnesses, and in some cases a selected few members of both the families, would attend the ceremony. The bride does not attend this ceremony.
During the ceremony, the chief would deliver a marriage sermon, imparting wisdom and blessings for the couple’s future. After the sermon, the chief would instruct the groom to pay the agreed-upon Meher to the bride, Additionally, the groom would present the bride with three dresses as wedding gifts, and contribute to the “Magifarivalhu,” a sum allocated for distributing Bondibaiyy (a sweet sticky rice dish) to every household in the bride's district during the community’s street cleaning day.
For a couple to embark on a happy and prosperous marriage, it was crucial to secure a home of their own, away from external influences and familial pressures. This would allow them to nurture their relationship and family. It was equally crucial to ensure they had a reliable source of income to meet the necessary expenses of running a household and raising a family, ensuring that they could build a fulfilling life together.
-
Book/Journal Title
-
Proclamation(Faithoora ފަތްތޫރަ)
-
Publisher
-
National Center for Linguistic and Historical Research (Dhivehi Bahaa Thaareekha Khidhumaikuraa Gaumee Markaz)
-
Place of Publication
-
Male', Maldives
-
Date of Publication
-
Sep 2007
-
Issue
-
342
-
Pages
-
41-44
-
Academic Field
-
Cultural studies
-
Anthropology
-
Community/Ethnic Group
-
Maldivians
-
Active Contribution
-
Maldives, FY 2024
National Centre for Cultural Heritage