An attire says a lot about you، as much as the walk you walk and the talk you talk.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms. Dunya Maumoon، daughter of the former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and the niece of incumbent president Abdulla Yameen، walked in to the special banquet of President held on Sunday night، talked with her foreign counterparts، wearing an attire that says more than her position or her family – it showed the whole Maldives، it’s principles and the traditional values.
Dunya، who is up to date with fashion on her appearances، joined the official banquet of President for the Independence Golden Jubilee Celebrations stealing everyone’s attention.
Except for that it was held for the celebrations of 50th Anniversary of the Independence of Maldives the suit-&-tie-and-national-dress (Dhivehi Dhigu Hedhun) event was as same as the recent banquets hosted by Presidents، until everyone’s focus stopped to Dunya، who was decorated in Maldives tradition.
Unlike seen from events as such، Minister Dunya Maumoon attended the banquet wearing the tradition dress of Maldives، Dhivehi Libaas، or Boavalhu’elhi Libaas.
The traditional Maldivian dress، or the Dhivehi libaas، showcases one of Maldives’ most unique embroidery techniques – that of Kasabu viyun. Kasabu viyun entails silver and gold lace، hand weaved into the neckline of the Dhivehi libaas. Very few craftspeople currently practice Kasabu work.
This highlight، was further heightened when she was joined by Foreign Minister’s Deputy Ms. Fathmath Inaya، Foreign Ministry’s Additional Secretary Ms. Liusha Zahir and Foreign Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Ms. Shiruzimath Sameer.
This is not the first time Foreign Ministry played the ‘traditional stunt’. Deputy Minister Ms. Fathmath Inaya، who is also the non-resident Ambassador of Maldives to the Singapore، presented her credentials to the Singaporean President wearing the traditional dress، earlier this year – the first of it’s kind، and the only of it’s kind as of now.
The four women awed the crowd – if exaggerating – “left people to line up to” take ‘selfies’ with them. The foreign dignitaries، top government officials and parliament members complimented Minister and the three other foreign ministry officials for their attire.
More than compliments، the four made sure it showcased Maldives tradition to the ‘whole world’، as the banquet was attended by Sri Lankan President Mathripala Sirisena، top government officials from many countries and numerous diplomats from across the world. It was indeed a very bold statement by the four women، and by the Maldives.
This extraordinary portrayal by the Foreign Ministry has shown that Maldives has the best interest in it to exercise it’s tradition than to embrace the changing world. Whether it is during an event as such، or not. It showed that we value the importance of sustaining our heritage and our principles as far superior than to surrender to the overwhelming and fast-paced developing world.
On the ending note، it is noteworthy that Dhivehi Libaas was once the epitome of Maldivian woman. A pride of Maldives history. The elegance of the femininity in Maldives. Somehow، the turning pages left this once a-national-trademark within in-the-book-tradition and history، however، still practiced fortunately.
Minister Dunya، Deputy Minister Inaya، Additional Secretary Liusha and Permanent Secretary Shiruzimath exercised the tradition well، and showed that there is still time to uphold the principles of this country، and sustain it’s utmost traditional values. We thank you for this splendid portrayal of Maldives amongst our foreign friends.