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Lakshadweep

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Union Territory · Capital: Kavaratti

Key facts
TypeUnion Territory
CapitalKavaratti
Formed1 November 1956 (named Lakshadweep in 1973)
Official languagesMalayalam, English (Jeseri is widely spoken; Mahl in Minicoy)
Population (Census 2011)64,473
Andaman and Nicobar IslandsAndhra PradeshArunachal PradeshAssamBiharChandigarhChhattisgarhDadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and DiuDelhiGoaGujaratHaryanaHimachal PradeshJammu and KashmirJharkhandKarnatakaKeralaLadakhLakshadweepMadhya PradeshMaharashtraManipurMeghalayaMizoramNagalandOdishaPuducherryPunjabRajasthanSikkimTamil NaduTelanganaTripuraUttar PradeshUttarakhandWest Bengal

Known for

  • India's smallest Union Territory: an archipelago of coral islands in the Arabian Sea
  • Turquoise lagoons, coral reefs and white sand beaches
  • Pole-and-line tuna fishing
  • Coconut palms on every island
  • Minicoy, with its own language (Mahl) and the Lava dance
  • A population that is mostly from Scheduled Tribes

Main sources of income

Fishing and coconut are the traditional livelihoods; land is scarce, so almost all cultivated land is under coconut.

  • Fisheries: Tuna (mainly skipjack) caught by pole-and-line, sold fresh, frozen and as dried masmin; reef and lagoon fish for local use
  • Coconut and coir: Coconuts, copra and coir fibre and yarn from the palms that cover the islands
  • Government and public services: Administration, education, health and shipping and air links run by the Union Territory
  • Tourism: Permit-based island tourism: lagoons, diving, snorkelling and water sports on islands such as Agatti, Bangaram and Kadmat

Top 5 specialities

  1. Skipjack tuna: Caught by pole-and-line fishing with live bait, the main income of fishing families
  2. Masmin (dried tuna): Tuna boiled, smoked and sun-dried into hard pieces that keep for months; made at home and sold to the mainland
  3. Coconut and copra: Coconuts and dried copra, the base of the island diet and an important source of cash
  4. Coir yarn and products: Coir fibre spun into yarn and rope, a livelihood for island women
  5. Island and marine tourism: Lagoon stays, scuba diving, snorkelling and kayaking, with local people working as guides, boatmen and staff

Best practices

  • Pole-and-line tuna fishing: Fish are caught one at a time on hooked poles using live bait, which avoids by-catch and over-fishing. It is widely cited as one of the most sustainable ways to catch tuna.
  • Organic farming across the islands: Lakshadweep was declared an organic Union Territory in 2020, with farming on the islands done without synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
  • Controlled tourism to protect fragile islands: Visitors need an entry permit, and only some islands are open to tourists, which limits pressure on the coral reefs, fresh water and local communities.

Dance & performing arts

  • Kolkali
  • Parichakali
  • Lava dance of Minicoy

Festivals

  • Id
  • Milad-un-Nabi

Food

  • Tuna dishes
  • Coconut-based cuisine

Crafts & heritage

  • Coir
  • Coconut-shell craft
  • Coral atolls and lagoons

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More from Lakshadweep

Traditional recipes (10)

  • Mas podichathu

    Shredded tuna stir-fried with coconut, onion, curry leaves and spices, a staple of island kitchens.

  • Lakshadweep tuna curry

    Tuna cooked in a coconut-milk gravy with shallots, chilli and kodampuli or tamarind.

  • Lakshadweep octopus fry

    Tender octopus from the lagoon, boiled and then fried dry with chilli, pepper, garlic and curry leaves.

  • Masmin chammanthi

    A dry chutney of roasted, crushed masmin (dried tuna) with coconut, chilli and shallots.

  • Tuna pickle

    Fried tuna pieces preserved in a vinegar, chilli and garlic masala, made to last through the monsoon.

  • Kilanji

    Thin crepes of rice flour and egg served with a sweet sauce of coconut and jaggery; a traditional island sweet dish.

  • Reef fish fry

    Whole lagoon or reef fish rubbed with a chilli–garlic paste and pan-fried in coconut oil.

  • Breadfruit curry

    Starchy breadfruit cooked in a mild coconut gravy, a vegetable dish from the trees that grow on the islands.

  • Breadfruit chips

    Thin slices of breadfruit fried crisp in coconut oil and salted, a tea-time snack.

  • Tender coconut cooler

    Fresh tender-coconut water with its soft flesh, sometimes with a squeeze of lime: the islands' everyday drink.

Traditional dances (3)

  • Lava dance of Minicoy

    Energetic group dance of the men of Minicoy, performed to drums and songs on festive occasions.

  • Kolkali

    Stick dance in which men move in a circle and strike short sticks in rhythm to songs, popular across the islands.

  • Parichakali

    Martial dance with sword and shield, in which pairs of men stage mock combat to rhythmic songs.

Famous places (5)

  • Kavaratti

    Capital island of Lakshadweep, with a calm lagoon, old mosques and a marine aquarium.

  • Agatti

    Island with Lakshadweep's only airport, surrounded by a wide, shallow lagoon and coral reefs.

  • Bangaram

    A small teardrop-shaped island ringed by a lagoon, known for its quiet beaches and clear water.

  • Minicoy (Maliku)

    Southernmost island of Lakshadweep, with its own language and customs, a tall lighthouse and a long tradition of tuna fishing and seafaring.

  • Kadmat

    Long, narrow island with lagoons on both sides, popular for water sports and diving.

Sources