The Nakaiy system is an Indigenous weather calendar used in the Maldives to understand and predict environmental patterns. Rooted in oral traditions and astrological cycles, it organises time into 13-14 day periods known as Nakaiys. The system, based on lunar stations, divides the sky into 27 segments, each linked to a prominent constellation. The Nakaiy calendar dictated the timing of activities such as fishing, farming, and sea trade, as communities used the Iruvai (northeast monsoon) and Hulhangu (southwest monsoon) to plan livelihoods and navigate safe sea routes.

Historically, Nakaiy knowledge intertwined with local folklore, rituals, and cultural practices, such as weaving Thundu Kunna mats, reed harvesting, and inter-island trade of these items as high-value commodities. This environmental understanding fostered stable island life, with people able to predict the weather and make decisions accordingly. Although its significance has diminished in recent years, the Nakaiy system remains embedded in Maldivian history and cultural identity.

Sounding

Following Sounding the Limits of Life (2015) by anthropologist Stefan Helmreich, we use ‘sounding’ as investigating, fathoming, and listening to describe the form of inquiry suitable for tracking meanings and practices related to the biological, geological, meteorological, aquatic, and sonic in a time of global change and climate crisis. Between 2020 and 2022, the research team recorded numerous wide-ranging conversations, dialogues, interviews, and debates in Divehi (Maldivian language), with anecdotal insights being transcribed.

‘About the changes that are occurring in the seasons (moosun), what I can say is that, then, the wind did change to coincide with the Nakaiy. Now, changes to the winds don't come with Nakaiy… In that sense, we were only able to travel then, when the winds came…. Now we don’t have a need for the winds. Now we don’t have a care for whatever way the wind blows. We can leave on the engine. Isn’t that right? So we needed it then.’Keyolhu Ahmed (Kondey), GDh Gadhdhoo, Maldives.

Weaving

Fewer than ten Gadhdhuan Thundu Kunna weavers remain. Some have moved to the capital, Malé, with their families, seeking better employment and education. Younger women are no longer involved in weaving, as it is no longer a viable livelihood. Furthermore, the wetlands of Fiyori, the only place where the grass for Gadhdhoo mats is sourced, are threatened by various climate stresses and saltwater flooding.

‘I tell you, if I start weaving this mat, I don’t have to think about anything, your mind does not hold anything else in it… if you start weaving, weaving, weaving like this, your mind is fresh… you don’t have to think about anything else… your mind is always inside the loom.’ Habeeba Ismail (Weaver), GDh Gadhdhoo, Maldives.

The Nakaiy Almanac

The Nakaiy Almanac is a data visualisation that merges Indigenous Knowledge of the Nakaiy periods with meteorological data from 1994 onward. It plots wind speed, rainfall, atmospheric pressure, cloud cover, temperature, and humidity – variables central to Nakaiy observations. This visual dialogue reveals both macro and micro patterns, showcasing seasonal variations between the Iruvai and Hulhangu monsoons, as well as anomalies and extremes. However, climate change has disrupted the once-reliable Nakaiy predictions; deviations and shifts in the monsoon cycles have made it harder to interpret traditional environmental cues, such as cloud formations, fishing patterns and sea surface conditions. These disruptions challenge long-standing micro-to-macro understandings of weather.

The Nakaiy Almanac serves as both a technical and cultural bridge, connecting contemporary and Western concepts of weather and climate with traditional Maldivian knowledge. It honours the deep-rooted wisdom of the Nakaiy calendar, allowing those who carry this heritage to provide insights into current weather patterns that go beyond standard meteorological data and its limited record. Though the reliability of community-held weather predictions has weakened due to climate change, the Nakaiy offers a locally grounded perspective that underscores the delicate environmental balance. It also highlights the immediate and lived experiences of those on the front line of climate change, shedding light on the urgent threats they face.