THE STORY OF DHANGETHI "HANDHU RUNBAA"

The island of Dhangethi has a unique legend that has been passed down through the generations. According to the story, the ancestors of the people who lived on the island were fishermen who relied on the sea for their livelihood. One night, a group of these fishermen set out to sea under the light of a crescent moon. As they sailed through the water, one of the fishermen noticed the moon’s reflection in a jar of water that was only partially filled. Excited by this discovery, he called out to his fellow fishermen to come see the amazing sight.

When the other fishermen saw the moon seemingly captured in the jar, they were amazed and quickly placed a lid on the jar, securing it tightly. Without hesitation, they set sail for the capital city of Male’, determined to present the moon to the king as a gift. When they arrived in Male’ and presented the jar to the king, he was surprised by their offering and asked to see what was inside. Upon opening the jar, however, the moon had vanished, much to the disappointment of the fishermen.

Despite the somewhat humorous nature of this legend, the people of Dhangethi are proud of their unique story and enjoy sharing it with others. It has become a part of their cultural identity and is something that they hold dear.