The Giraavaru origins are descendants of people from
Malabar Coast of
India and northwestern shores of
Sri Lanka, who probably settled on the island around the
Sangam period (300BC–300AD) They are mentioned in the legend about the establishment of the capital and kingly rule in
Malé, where the Giraavaru people granted permission to a visiting king
Koimala Kalo prior to the foundation of his kingdom on
Malé. They heavily mixed with Indo-Aryan speakers to create Modern Dhivehi people. They were strictly
monogamous and prohibited divorce. Their
folklore was preserved in song and dance. Their music was audibly different from that of the other islanders. The most distinct items were the necklaces of tiny blue beads which no other Maldivian wore. It is said that the Giraavaru people were always headed by a woman and that throughout Maldivian history, a woman (
foolhuma-dhaitha), represented the
Sultan's civil authority in Giravaru Island. The Sultans of the Maldives used to recognize the autonomy of the Giraavaru people and did not apply quite the same laws on them as they did on the rest of their realm. The Giravaru people never seemed to recognize the sovereignty of the Sultans fully. Ordinary Maldivians were required to address the Malé nobility in a different level of speech. However, the Giravaru people did not observe this custom and addressed the Malé nobility as they would usually address themselves. It was believed that the Giravaru people were mortally scared of
toads. Things changed in 1932 when a written
constitution was adopted. The customary rights of the indigenous Giraavaru people were not recognized in that document. Any rights they seemed to have enjoyed under the absolute rule of the Sultans were extinguished by default. ==End of the culture==