Maldivian capital welcomes 2025 with fireworks, drone show and cultural performances

The Maldivian capital welcomed the new year 2025 with dazzling fireworks, a mesmerizing drone show, and delightful cultural performances.

New Year’s Eve celebrations kicked off at the Central Park in Hulhumale’ at 08:00 pm on Tuesday with the Maldives Culture and Food Festival – a two-day extravaganza showcasing Maldivian cuisine, arts and craft, and entertainment.

Hundreds of people living in the capital flocked to the Central Park, which was lined with food and arts and craft stalls. They savored traditional dishes and enjoyed captivating cultural performances including boduberu and dhafi negun, and a segment by local comedian Nazim Shiham (Kaattey).

As the clock struck 09:00 pm, the delighted crowd watched a mesmerizing drone show, depicting a tourist's journey through the Maldives. The drones formed an airplane, then the Velana International Airport, then a seaplane, a man holding a traditional boduberu, a coconut, a scuba diver, two majestic manta rays swimming around in the ocean, a fisherman catching tuna, coconut palm trees, and the minaret adjacent to the old Friday Mosque next to the Maldivian national flag.

އާ އަހަރު ފާހަގަކުރުމުގެ ގޮތުން ހުޅުމާލޭ ސެންޓްރަލް ޕާކުގައި ބޭއްވި ހަރަކާތްތަކުގެ ތެރެއިން ޑްރޯން ޝޯއެއް ބާއްވައި، ރާއްޖޭގެ ސަގާފަތާއި ފަތުރުވެރިކަން ދައްުކުވައިދީފައިވޭ pic.twitter.com/eJgPKUxpig

— sun.mv (@sunbrk) December 31, 2024

The drone show then turned into a celebration of the Maldivian tourism industry’s achievements in 2024 – a record-breaking two million visitors and winning the World Travel Awards (WTA) World’s Leading Destination award for the fifth consecutive year.

The delighted crowd, composed of people of all ages, from the elderly to toddlers, watched mesmerized as the drones changed formation.

The countdown began at 11:59 pm. As the clock struck midnight, hundreds of people looked up at the in unison as the sky exploded with dazzling fireworks.

The Maldives Culture and Food Festival is organized by the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), in collaboration with key partners such as the Ministry of Tourism, Housing Development Corporation (HDC), MyHulhumale', Business Center Corporation (BCC), Male’ City Council, Waste Management Corporation Limited (WAMCO), the Maldives Police Service, Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), Public Service Media (PSM), Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Dhiraagu, Ooredoo, Manta Air, Maldivian, Ace Travels, and Gulf Air.

The celebrations will continue on Wednesday from 04:00 pm to 10:00 pm, with the festival reopening and featuring food and arts and crafts stalls.

According to MMPRC, the festival will offer a range of family-friendly activities, including a police and fire truck showcase, a climbing wall, a bounce house, and a Transformers display.

The festival will feature more energetic boduberu performances and an exciting Roboman showcase.

“MMPRC is proud to present the first Maldives Culture and Food Festival,” said Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO and Managing Director of MMPRC.

“This event is a key initiative to celebrate the achievements of the Maldives in 2024 and to promote the diverse cultural heritage of the Maldives while providing a memorable experience for locals and visitors. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating the Maldivian spirit as we bid farewell to 2024 and welcome the new year.”