Eid in the Maldives: customs, food and celebrations

The Islamic calendar follows the moon, so both Eids move about 11 days earlier each year. The exact day is confirmed only once the new moon is sighted.

The 2027 dates are astronomical estimates, as used in our festivals and public holidays guide. They can shift by a day either way.

In the Maldives, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs announces the start of each Eid after the national moon-sighting process. For Kuda Eid, the ministry looks for the Shawwal crescent on the evening of the 29th day of Ramadan. If it is not seen in the country, and there are no verified sightings from other Islamic countries, Ramadan runs to 30 days and Eid falls the day after.

That is what happened in 2026. The ministry confirmed that the crescent had not been sighted, so Ramadan ended on Thursday and Eid al-Fitr was on Friday 20 March, as reported by national media.

For visitors, this means you may not know the exact Eid day until the evening before, so keep plans flexible.

Kuda Eid closes a month of fasting, so the mood is one of relief and gratitude. Read our guide to Ramadan in the Maldives for what the weeks before it are like.

Morning prayers

Eid prayers are held early in the morning. In 2026 the ministry set all Eid al-Fitr prayers in the capital for 7am, at large open-air sites such as football grounds as well as at mosques. On local islands, most people walk to the mosque or the island’s prayer ground in new clothes.

After prayers in Malé, the President traditionally holds a public Eid greeting at Mulee’aage, the official residence, and anyone may join the queue.

Giving before Eid

Before the prayer, Muslims pay zakat al-fitr, a small charitable payment for each member of the household.

Food on Kuda Eid

Breakfast is the big shared meal. On many islands it is communal, with neighbours bringing dishes to share. National broadcaster MMTV describes a typical spread:

• Kulhi boakiba, the spicy fish cake that is the classic Eid breakfast dish. Try our kulhi boakiba recipe.
• Short eats such as gulha and bajiya.
• Eid kunbus on some islands, a sweet made with grated coconut, coconut palm syrup, sugar and flour, wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked in the ground.
• Lunch, often a chicken curry with salads and sweets such as haluvidhaa.

Sharing plates between houses, called thashibari, is part of the day.

Bodu Eid is Eid al-Adha, the festival that follows the Hajj pilgrimage. Visit Maldives, the national tourism body, notes that the holiday lasts a few days and that many families travel to their home islands or visit relatives elsewhere. The day before is Hajj Day, when many people fast.

The day starts in the same way as Kuda Eid: prayers at the mosque, then kulhi boakiba and a big breakfast. Some households serve the feast in a malaafaiy, a large lidded wooden dish lacquered on the outside, wrapped in cloth. The difference is what comes next. On local islands, Bodu Eid is when the island puts on its traditional show.

Traditions you may see

Customs vary by island, and not every island holds all of them. These are described as reported by Visit Maldives and national broadcaster PSM.

• Vedhuma dhiyun. Groups of islanders formally ask the island’s elders and leaders for permission to start the festivities. It is a gesture of respect, and it opens the celebrations.
• Fenkulhi. A water fight, often with coloured water, that tends to start the fun after breakfast. Anyone on the street is fair game.
• Bodu mas. “Bodu” means big and “mas” means fish. A giant fish woven from coconut palm leaves, or built on a frame, is carried through the island, and “fishermen” act out the struggle to catch it on the beach. The story comes from island folklore about a great fish and ghosts rising from the sea.
• Maali neshun. A parade of maali, people painted and dressed as spirits and ghosts, sometimes blackened with charcoal. They dance through the lanes and chase children, who shriek with delight.
• Koadi kendun. A decorated pole made from coconut palm materials is raised, and a playful contest follows between one team trying to cut it down and another protecting it.
• Music and dance. Boduberu drumming carries the evenings. You may also see bandiyaa jehun (a women’s dance with metal pots), dhandi jehun (a stick dance) and thaara (a seated tambourine performance). Read more in our boduberu guide.
• Games. Afternoons bring traditional island games and sports, with competitions for children, women and older people as well as men.

Celebrations run from morning until late at night, sometimes for several days.

Eid in Malé and Hulhumalé

The capital has its own programme. In recent years it has included water festivals, bodu mas and maali parades and fireworks. For Kuda Eid 2026, the Maldives National Defence Force organised three days of family activities in Malé, Hulhumalé and Villimalé.

Eid is a lovely time to be on a local island, but things work differently for a few days.

• Offices and banks close. Government offices shut for the Eid break, which can last a week or more when the government extends it. Before Bodu Eid 2026, the Maldives Monetary Authority said banks would open for one short day in the middle of the break with no cash withdrawals. Carry enough rufiyaa before the holiday starts; see our rufiyaa guide.
• Boats are busy. Many Maldivians go home to their islands, so ferries and shared speedboats fill up just before and after Eid. Book transfers early and confirm them the day before. Our public ferries guide explains how the network works.
• Cafés and shops change hours. Some close on Eid morning while families pray and eat. Others stay open late in the evenings when the island is out.
• Guesthouses stay open. Your host may be celebrating too, so expect a relaxed pace. Many will happily point you towards the day’s events.

Maldivians are generally pleased when visitors take an interest. A few simple habits help.

• Dress modestly in the village. Cover shoulders and knees away from the bikini beach. Our guide to traditional dress shows what people wear for the festival.
• Say “Eid Mubarak”. It is the standard greeting and it will always be returned with a smile.
• Keep away from the prayer ground. During morning prayers, do not walk through or photograph the rows of worshippers.
• Ask before close-up photos. Parades are public, but ask before photographing people, especially women and children. See our photography guide.
• Expect to get wet. If fenkulhi starts, you may be splashed. Keep your phone in a waterproof pouch and wear clothes that can take a little dye.

Dhiffushi, our home island on the eastern rim of North Malé Atoll, celebrates both Eids with prayers, family feasts, games and evening festivities. It is about 40–50 minutes from Malé by shared speedboat, and many people who grew up here come home for Eid, so boats are full around the holiday. See our event pages for Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha on the island.