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One of the best ways to get acquainted with the people of a country is through their music and dance. Folk dances make this possible as they are performed by members of the public at social gatherings and are performed to traditional music that has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. However not all traditional dances can be deemed folk dances as some have ritualistic origins and others are court dances.

Although small in size the Maldives has a rich cultural heritage and its songs and dances are a window to the history and culture of its people. While many of its dances reflect the influences of neighbouring nations and visiting travelers and merchants, the Maldives has several dances that are quite home grown. Since the Maldives had a royal court up till 1968, the songs and dances also reflect the influence of the royal court as many of the songs and dances had their beginnings there.

Bolimalaafath Neshun folk dance for instance, performed exclusively by women is based on the practice of offering gifts to the sultan during festivals. The gifts take the form of beautiful shells which were a valued commodity during ancient times. They are put in specially decorated and packaged boxes or vase known as the Kurandi Malaafath. A group of 24 women dressed in colourful traditional attire that have been perfumed by passing them through burning incense, dance and sing as a group to the accompaniment of traditional music and break off into groups of twos, threes and fours that step forward during the dance to present the gifts to the sultan. The songs generally express sentiments of patriotism or loyalty. Although there is no sultan anymore the dance, an important part of the country’s culture is still performed on occasion, though without the gifts.

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