Everything about Mauritius

Among the religious festivals celebrated are:

• Thaipoosam Cavadee
• Maha Shivratree
• Fete du Printemps
• Ougadi
• Ganesh Chaturthi
• Eid-Ul-Fitr
• Diwali
• Christmas

• Maha Shivratree

Maha Shivratree is a pious festival, which is observed in the month of Phaguna (February— March) in honour of Shiva, one of the most celebrated Gods of the Hindu pantheon. It is among the most popular Hindu festivals in Mauritius, which is celebrated with great splendour in Mauritius. It is one of the most important festival in the calendar of Hindu religion and is observed in the month of Phaguna (February— March) in honour of Shiva, one of the most celebrated Gods of the Hindu pantheon.

Nevertheless, presently, it is being celebrated by almost all religions in Mauritius, and even by foreigners, who some of them, come to our island specifically for this festival. Looking at the splendour of this festival, it can be said that there is a mass participation through the annual pilgrimage to the sacred lake of Grand Bassin (‘Ganga Talao’). Pilgrims dressed in white dresses carry water suspended from bamboo slits on their shoulders.

Ganga Talao or Grand Bassin is a lake situated in an isolated mountain area in the district of Savanne. It is about 1800 feet above sea level and is considered as the most sacred place in Mauritius, according to Hindu mythology. In 1998, it was declared a "sacred lake" and in 1972, some holy water from the Ganges River was mixed and the lake was renamed Ganga Talao. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and other Gods including Hanuman, Lakshmi along the sacred lake.

"Mangal Mahadev" is the statue of Lord Shiva which is 108 feet. It was inaugurated in 2007. It is also the highest known statue in Mauritius and many tourists coming to Mauritius does not stop by Grand Bassin without having a look at this huge and spectacular statue.

On the auspicious day of Maha Shivratree, devotees observe fast and keep vigil all night. Mahashivaratri marks the night when Lord Shiva performed the 'Tandava'. It is also thought that on this day Lord Shiva was married to Parvati Ma. On this day Shiva devotees observe fast and offer fruits, flowers and bel leaves on the Shiva Linga and ‘char pahar ki puja’ is performed till the next morning of the festival.

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• Cavadee

Cavadee is celebrated in January/February in honour of Lord Muruga. Their bodies pierced with needles and their tongues and cheeks with skewers, devotees, trancelike and in penance, march along bearing the "Cavadee", a wooden arch covered with flowers with a pot of milk at each end of its base, to pour it over Lord Muruga in the temple to seek his blessing. At this point, despite the long walk under the hot sun, the milk should not have curdled. The devotees keep ten days of fasting with abstinence to materialism.

• Christmas

Christmas is celebrated by all communities in Mauritius. It is also celebrated by Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Children from all communities await the arrival of Father Christmas at midnight to get their gifts.

• Chinese Spring Festival

The Chinese New Year's Day (January/February depending on the moon). Red, symbolic of happiness, is the dominant color. No scissors or knives are used on that day. Food is piled up to ensure abundance during the year, and the traditional wax cake is distributed to relatives and friends. Firecrackers are lit to keep evil spirits at bay.

• Ganesh Charturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the 4th day of the lunar month August/September, as the birth day of Ganesha, the God of wisdom and remover of all obstacles.