Minicoy or Maliku is the southern most island in Lakshadweep. Among the islands of the territory, it has perhaps the oldest recorded history. Marco Polo referred to it as the “female” island. Ibn Batuta, the African Globe trotter who visited Maldives in the fourteenth Century, mentions about this beautiful island Muluk, from where he married two women during his short stay for seventy days.
The island is crescent-shaped, and more than 10 Km in length from end to end. The lagoon is large and deep enough for small ships to enter. There is a small island at the northern tip of the main island, known as Viringili which was used by the people for isolating small –pox patients in olden days, and therefore is also known as ‘SMALL POX’ island. Within the lagoon, the reef dries at low tide at the north-western entrance, constituting an ideal place for marine collections.
The Minicoyans are children of the sea. In olden days their vessels went far into Arabia, the Maldives, Andaman, Bengal and Burma. This has left them the tradition of a sea falling life, and the youth of the island even now look to the sea for a livelihood. More than half of the inhabitants of working age are employed as seamen in ocean going vessels all over the world. The islanders have their own Seamen’s Associations at Calcutta and Bombay, which provide employment opportunities for prospective young men. The profession of the seamen, which make the ordinary Minicoyan a globetrotter, and has also helped him to embellish his household with articles found the world over. He uses exquisitely painted china wares and his beds are spread with silks brought from abroad. The cloth for this turban and Haryal are still brought from Calcutta. So are the Libba cloth for women and the fine laces that decorate the clothing.
Among the many foreign influences which the islanders have adopted may be listed the duodecimal system of numerical notation. This is however almost extinct but with a few very old people, who still use it for counting coconuts.
The main attraction of the island is its carefully arranged villages, known as Athiris. Each Athiri has its own internal organization headed by a Moopan, around which the life of the community rests. They have their own village house, their own streets, bathing tanks, places of worship and burial. The public clubs for men and women which were the centers of a day night life in olden days are extinct now, but the buildings are still maintained in tact. Another curious remnant of old life in the island is the sheds where profligate men and women were exposed to communal punishment.
The houses, which stand in their own provate enclosures, are arranged in streets. They are kept neat and tidy and reflect the urge of the people for order and colour. All the houses have a swing cot made of wood which is beautifully furnished and painted in different hues. The inhabitants love a profusion of colours, be it on the beautifully engraved tabletops that decorate their drawing rooms or on fishing boats or racing dhonis. One of the handicrafts of the people is boat modeling which is a piece of art painted in different colours.
In Minicoy there are 10 villages in the island. They are (from south to north) listed as below.
SlNo Name of Village Village’s Color
1 BAADA White
2 Aoumagu.Blue
3 Boduathiri Yellow
4 Rammedu Yellow
5 Sedivalu White
6 Alodi
7 FunhilolYellow
8 Kudhehi White
9 Falessery Red
10 Kendiparty
Each village is headed by a Bodukaka (big brother) and a Bodudatha (Big Sister) assisted by a 2nd Bodukaka and a 2nd bodudatha. First Bodukaka looks after the internal matters of the village and 2nd Bodukaka the external affairs.
Each
village has a village house where ‘baemedu’ (assemblage of villagers) is held. The assemblae of people from all the villages is known as ‘havaru’. As source of income a avillage has fishing boats, country crafts and cocounut trees. Common feasts are conducted at the village house during the celebrations of Eid and other festive occasions.
The folk dances of Minicoy are ‘Lava’, Thaara’, ‘Dandi’, ‘Fuli’ and ‘Bandiya’. Colourful and elegant race boat known as ‘Jahadhoni’ used for race, reception of dignitaries and for annual picnic to Viringili/Raggan.
Source:
Minicoy (Lakshadweep) History & Culture
Some things that I got after discussion with our guide during Snorkelling
> All the disputes are resolved at Baemedu, and a conflict happens very rarely, I could feel that the moment I stepped on the islands. People are very hostile and are peace lovers.
> Groom side is the one that would bear every expense of the marriage, after marriage groom has to spend his nights only at Brides place as long as they are on island, this is their custom.
> Since they are closer to Maldives, official language in Minicoy is MAHAL (all the other islands in Lakshadweep speak Malayalam).
MAHAL Script: ![Three Friends & A Trip to ISLANDS-dsc_3086.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/travelogues/454006d1692234248t-three-friends-trip-islands-dsc_3086.jpg)