The Procession of the Boli Malaafaiy
Author(s)
Title
The Procession of the Boli Malaafaiy
Alternative Title
Boli Malaafathaa Dhiun (ބޮލި މަލާފަތާ ދިއުން)
Publication Type
Language
div
Number of Pages
2
Location
Maldives
Keywords
Festivals
Royalty
Maldives
Shells
Marriage
Boli Malaafaiy ceremony
Relevance to ICH Safeguarding
Description
Boli Malaafathaa Dhiun is a special ceremony that was performed for the royalty of the Maldives. It was considered a entertainment and an official sport performed to congratulate the said royalty on special occasions. In the past, Boli Malaafathaa Dhiun has been performed for occasions such as:
- Royal marriage
- Birth of a king’s child or birth of a child of the direct lineage to a king
- Completion of the education of the next in line to the throne
Boli Malaafathaa Dhiun is performed by the Maldivian women. A handful of women are selected from Male’ (the capital of the Maldives) and from the countryside. These women will wear attires of colourful Kasabu Boavalhu elhi Libaas (a traditional dress) with Feyli and then adorn themselves with earrings, Fattarubai (a traditional necklace with gold or silver coins) and lac-worked bangles.
The women will carry Boli Malaafaiy and curtsy to the royal that is being celebrated before one of the women would step up to present the Boli Malaafaiy. This Boli Malaafaiy is either a wooden container with a wooden lid, intricately decorated with traditional Maldivian lac-work or a decorated copper container with a lid. The Boli Malaafaiy is said to contain different types of precious and pretty Boli (seashells). This is a ceremony that takes place inside the royal palace.
This ceremony was last held for a royal when the son and next in line to the throne of Al-Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddeen 3, Al-Ameer Hassan Izzuddeen, when he returned back to Maldives upon completion of his studies in beginning of the twentieth century. Towards the end of the century, the ceremony also included a dance. Therefore, ceremony of Boli Malaafathaa Dhiun (Procession of the Boli Malaafaiy) became the Boli Malaafathaa Neshun (Dance of the Boli Malaafaiyy). According to the researchers, this dance is derived from the Mujura dance of India. So, it is said that the Maldivians witnessed this dance and then adopted and adapted it in their culture. In the recent times, the ceremony was last held on 1984 to conclude the SAARC conference.
The ceremony is one of the cultural activities that is being slowly forgotten by the Maldivians. The ones that remember or know that such a ceremony was there is now few from the public. Reasons for this is probably due to the controversies in the modern society and lack of awareness from the public.
- Royal marriage
- Birth of a king’s child or birth of a child of the direct lineage to a king
- Completion of the education of the next in line to the throne
Boli Malaafathaa Dhiun is performed by the Maldivian women. A handful of women are selected from Male’ (the capital of the Maldives) and from the countryside. These women will wear attires of colourful Kasabu Boavalhu elhi Libaas (a traditional dress) with Feyli and then adorn themselves with earrings, Fattarubai (a traditional necklace with gold or silver coins) and lac-worked bangles.
The women will carry Boli Malaafaiy and curtsy to the royal that is being celebrated before one of the women would step up to present the Boli Malaafaiy. This Boli Malaafaiy is either a wooden container with a wooden lid, intricately decorated with traditional Maldivian lac-work or a decorated copper container with a lid. The Boli Malaafaiy is said to contain different types of precious and pretty Boli (seashells). This is a ceremony that takes place inside the royal palace.
This ceremony was last held for a royal when the son and next in line to the throne of Al-Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddeen 3, Al-Ameer Hassan Izzuddeen, when he returned back to Maldives upon completion of his studies in beginning of the twentieth century. Towards the end of the century, the ceremony also included a dance. Therefore, ceremony of Boli Malaafathaa Dhiun (Procession of the Boli Malaafaiy) became the Boli Malaafathaa Neshun (Dance of the Boli Malaafaiyy). According to the researchers, this dance is derived from the Mujura dance of India. So, it is said that the Maldivians witnessed this dance and then adopted and adapted it in their culture. In the recent times, the ceremony was last held on 1984 to conclude the SAARC conference.
The ceremony is one of the cultural activities that is being slowly forgotten by the Maldivians. The ones that remember or know that such a ceremony was there is now few from the public. Reasons for this is probably due to the controversies in the modern society and lack of awareness from the public.
Book/Journal Title
Publisher
The Academy of Dhivehi Language (Dhivehi Bahuge Academy)
Place of Publication
Male', Maldives
Date of Publication
Jul 2014
Issue
412
Pages
21-22
Academic Field
Social practice
Cultural studies
Community/Ethnic Group
Maldivian royalty
Contributor
Active Contribution
Maldives, FY 2024