Lakshadweep

Introduction

Lakshadweep is India's union territory. It is the smallest union territory and the capital is Kavaratti. There is only one district and the largest city is Andreotti. Lakshadweep is the Sanskrit term that means Hundred Thousand Islands.

History

During the state's reorganization, Lakshadweep was segregated from the Malabar district on 1st November 1956. On the same day, it was declared a union territory, at that time it was known as Minicoy, Laccadive, and Amindivi. Hence, on 1st November 1973, it was named Lakshadweep.

Fairs and festivals

Some Muslim festivals are widely celebrated such as Milad-un-Nabi, Muharram, Eid-ul-Adha, Bakri-Eid, and Eid-ul-Fitr. These festivals are enjoyed with a lot of enthusiasm. People of the region come together in the mosque to celebrate all these festivals. The other festivals of the ethnic group are Ratheeb and Maulud. Ratheeb is celebrated in Kavaratti. The Mawlid festival is celebrated by the islanders to dedicate a prayer to the god.

Geography

Lakshadweep is a cluster of 35 islands. It is spread over 32.62 km². It is located near the western coast of India. In Lakshadweep, a 4,200 km² area is covered by lagoons, 20,000 km² is covered by territorial water, and 400,000 km² is an economic zone.

Demographics

The total population of Lakshadweep is 64,473, of which 78% population is urban and 22% of the population is rural. Islam is the dominant religious group in Lakshadweep. 

Culture

The culture of Lakshadweep is quite similar to the culture of Kerala because they are close to each other. The culture varied with diverse religions and diverse festivals, ceremonies, and occasions celebrated in the pocket of Lakshadweep. The jewelry made up of corals, shells, and oysters are prominent in Lakshadweep. There are various handicrafts made by using coconut shells and tortoiseshell. 

Language

The official languages of the Lakshadweep islands are Malayalam and English. Malayalam is a widely spoken language. There is found the fusion of two languages i.e., Indian and Arabic language, named Arabi Malayalam. Dhivehi language is spoken in the Minicoy. 

Tourism

Lakshadweep is heaven for all nature or water sports addicts. Here you can enjoy marine life. There you can also enjoy scuba diving, and an expert facility is provided to teach scuba diving.

Education

The literacy rate in Lakshadweep is 91.85%. There are three universities in Kavaratti, Andreotti, and Kamath. There is only one school in Minicoy i.e., Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. 

Dances and music

The dance and music culture of Lakshadweep are influenced by Islamic culture. Lava dance, Kolkali dance, Parichakali dance, and Opana dance are performed during family occasions or festivals like childbirth, marriage, etc. Lava dance is a prominent dance form of Minicoy. Kolkali and Parichakali dance forms are the most popular dance forms in Lakshadweep. 

Cuisine 

Lakshadweep cuisine serves vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. The Lakshadweep cuisine is spicy and tangy in taste. The staple of Lakshadweep is rice and coconut. The wide varieties of seafood are also popular there. The most popular dishes are mus Khwaab, Maasu Podichath, fish pakora, and octopus fry.