Kōgaṇṇu () is the oldest and the biggest cemetery in the
Maldives
The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, and historically known as the Maldive Islands, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in South Asia located in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives is southwest of Sri Lanka and India, abou ...
.
Kōgaṇṇu cemetery is located in the island of
Meedhoo in
Addu Atoll
Seenu Atoll, historically known as Addu Atoll, is the southernmost atoll of the Maldives. Addu Atoll, together with Fuvahmulah, located 40 km north of Addu Atoll, extend the Maldives into the Southern Hemisphere. Addu Atoll is located 540& ...
.
History
The cemetery was built about 900 years ago for the purpose of burying the first
Muslims
Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
of
Addu Atoll
Seenu Atoll, historically known as Addu Atoll, is the southernmost atoll of the Maldives. Addu Atoll, together with Fuvahmulah, located 40 km north of Addu Atoll, extend the Maldives into the Southern Hemisphere. Addu Atoll is located 540& ...
.
It was built by Chief Justice Mohamed Shamsuddine and his three sons after being exiled from Male' by Sultan Mohamed Imaduddin I after failing to completely praise the Sultan.
The largest tombstone in the country is also found in this cemetery.
It is believed that this tombstone dates back to the 18th century and belongs to one of the royals of the Maldives.
Many historical writings of
Maldives
The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, and historically known as the Maldive Islands, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in South Asia located in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives is southwest of Sri Lanka and India, abou ...
are found in Kōgaṇṇu.
The cemetery has 1,535 tombstones and its believed that
Queen Khadijah is buried in this cemetery, as well as Yoosuf Naib, the person who converted the people of Meedhoo to Islam and his supporters, and Chief Justice Mohamed Shamsuddin.
Kogannu also has 227 monuments.
In 2017, some tombstones of Kogannu were vandalized and the
Maldives Police Service
The Maldives Police Service () is the civilian national police force of the Republic of Maldives. It is responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout Maldives. T ...
sought to appeal an order by the Magistrate Court to protect the cemetery after claiming that it lacks people to be stationed there 24/7.
Kōgaṇṇu is listed on the 2022 World Monuments Watch and is currently under process of receiving the World Heritage status.
Architecture
The tombstones, mausolea and additional mosques were constructed from coral cut from the shallow reefs around the island.
See also
*
Meedhoo (Addu)
Hulhumeedhoo ( Dhivehi: ހުޅުމީދޫ) or Hulhudhoo-Meedhoo is an island located on the northeastern end of Addu City. It is the fifth largest island in the Maldives. Although Hulhumeedhoo is geographically one island, it is divided into two ...
References
Cemeteries in the Maldives
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