FESTIVALS
Maha Shivaratree
The festival of Maha Shivratree is celebrated in Mauritius and India, but also among other Hindus of the world. Maha Shivaratri in Mauritius is indeed a major festival for the Hindu community and pilgrims walks towards Grand Bassin, a natural lake on the central plateau. The pilgrims dressed in white proceed to Grand Bassin on foot as a sign of sacrifice on this festival. Maha Shivratree means the grand night of Shiva.
Obviously, ceremonies take place on a moonless night during the Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Paigun. Just to clarify the Hindi terms, Krishna Paksha means dark fortnight of Palguna (month of February/March) and this is the reason for celebrating Maha Shivratree in February or March. Maha Shivratree is observed in the honour of the Hindu Lord Shiva who was married to Maa Parvati on this particular day. Maha Shivratree is the night where Lord Shiva performed the powerful dance of creation, preservation, and destruction known as Tandava.
Holi
Just as the many other major Hindu festivals, the large Indian majority, (about 63 per cent) celebrate Holi with a lot of enthusiasm in the island of Mauritius. It is a day where people celebrate and drench themselves in the spirit of Holi and of course, colour water. Hindus here duly perform the tradition of Holika Dahan or lighting of bonfire on the eve of Holi and celebrate the victory of good over evil.
Next day people play with colours and drench each other with water jets called Pichkaris. While in the evening they greet each other with tilak and exchange sweets. Holi is also marked as a spring festival when the nature wears its best clothes and fields and flowers are in full bloom.
Divali
Diwali is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Mauritius as this country has a large Hindu population. The Diwali celebrations at Mauritius are as good as in India. The festival of lights - Diwali is celebrated in October/November. Diwali marks the victory of Rama over Ravana and also commemorates Krishna’s destruction of the demon Narakasuran. Earthen oil lamps are placed in front of every home turning the island into a fairyland of flickering lights.
Mauritius is a beautiful landmass full of picturesque landscapes and enchanting spots. Mauritius accounts of Indian majority, which follow Hinduism. Hence, the celebration of almost all the Hindu festivals in this island is a common phenomenon. In Mauritius, Diwali celebration is an age-old tradition. Beautiful rows of twinkling candles and lamps of all sorts are lit all over the island to celebrate the return of the hero of the Ramayana, Rama, from his 14 years of exile from the forest.
Chinese Spring Festival
The Chinese New Year’s Day or the Spring Festival is the most important festival for the Sino-Mauritian community. This festival is preceded by a thorough cleaning of the home and is characterised by the traditional sharing of wax cakes amongst relatives and friends.
On that day firecrackers are lit to chase evil spirits. Special celebrations are held on that day in Port Louis, in Chinatown, with Chinese Dragons and lion dances.
