Celebrating the National Day of Maldives – A tribute to the end of a colonial rule by the Portuguese

Maldives observes every 1^st of every Rabi’ al-Awwal of the Islamic calendar as National Day of the country which is a declared public holiday. As we celebrate the 77^th National Day this year, we deviate from numerous large-scaled celebratory activities such as parades, ceremonial functions, firework displays and stage performers etc. which one can normally experience on the day, due to the delicate circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this does not depreciate the meaning of what this day holds for the Maldivian community even by a bit. Nonetheless, Maldives is still celebrating the day by small-scaled activities.

Photo: Presidency Mv

The National Day is celebrated as a tribute to the heroic actions of Muhammed Thakurufaanu Al Auzam along with his siblings and companions in leading a revolution amongst locals to successfully overthrow a fifteen-year of an extremely cruel colonial rule of the Portuguese in Maldives during the year of 1573.

One of the annual celebratory activities which was followed this year was the annual flag hoisting ceremony held in attendance with the President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the Vice President Faisal Naseem and other senior government officials on this morning at the Republic Square in Male’ City. Secondly, the President had also addressed the nation on the occasion, following the general trend; which was livestreamed earlier this morning. However, two very interesting activities; the National Day Official Function and National Awards Ceremony has been indefinitely postponed due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Photo: Ministry of arts culture and heritage

On the bright side, you have the opportunity to livestream a fruitful forum hosted by Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage dwelling into a comparison of folklore stories and established facts in respective of the events which took place to which the National Day is attributed to. The forum will viewable via social media platforms of the Ministry starting from 4:30pm.