Gov’t Assures Islamic Values Not Violated During Traditional Displays
Photo: Ministry of Dhivehi Language, Culture, and Heritage
Minister for Dhivehi Language, Culture, and Heritage Adam Naseer Ibrahim assures that the demonstrations of Maldivian traditions were conducted in a manner that did not violate Islamic values.
To celebrate Fitr Eid this year, “Hichchah Vadaigathun”, a Maldivian tradition that has been lost to history, was demonstrated in Male’ on Sunday evening, in an initiative led by the Ministry of Dhivehi Language, Culture, and Heritage. In the interview given to the Public Service Media (PSM) that night, Minister Adam Naseer explained that Hichchah Vadaigathun was a tradition carried out by Maldivian Sultans in the last ten days of Ramadan, usually on select days. It was a grand procession that was carried out in the streets, and a variety of food would be cooked for the occasion as well. He explained that specialised kitchens were set up for the occasion.
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However, the demonstration has been on the receiving end of criticism, as it denotes non-Islamic values.
ހިއްޗަށް ވަޑައިގަތުމުގެ ދަރުބާރު ތަމްސީލުގެ ތެރެއިން. #ދައުލަތުގެޓީމު #ފިޠުރުޢީދު1446 pic.twitter.com/bnCPQofOB4— Ministry of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage (@MoDLCH) March 31, 2025
Regarding the criticism, Minister Adam Naseer explained that elements of the ceremony that violate Islamic principles had been purposefully left out of the ceremony.
“There is no extremism in the name of heritage and culture. Hichchah Vadaigathun was well-represented. Acts of Bid’ah were purposefully eliminated. Visits to certain sites were removed for a reason. The decision to not keep the participants unclothed was for a reason. These things are shown in our history,” he said.
Bid’ah are acts or things that have been introduced into the religion of Islam that have no basis to support it.
According to the government, the decision to showcase this ceremony was made after discussing it with religious scholars. As per their recommendation, certain aspects of the ceremony were changed. The minister said that apart from those that were dropped to carry out religious practices, everything found in the representation of the Hichchah Vadaigathun ceremony was the same as the original.
