Dhivehi New Year
Before the Islamic calendar was adopted, the Maldives followed a solar calendar based on the movement of the sun through the constellations, and some islands still mark the traditional new year with special foods, family gatherings, and the reading of the "raivaru" (traditional Maldivian poetry). The traditional calendar divided the year into 28 nakaiy (constellations), each lasting 13-14 days, and each nakaiy had its own weather patterns, fishing conditions, and agricultural activities. The nakaiy system is still used by fishermen and farmers to predict weather and ocean conditions, and the knowledge is passed down orally from generation to generation. The traditional new year is not an official holiday, but it is remembered on some islands as a cultural celebration. . 2026: Mar 4. 2027: Mar 23.
