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Divali

Hindus celebrate the victory of Rama over the evil deity Ravana and Krishna’s destruction of the demon Narakasuran - the victory of good over evil - during Diwali, which falls in October or November. To mark this joyous event, clay oil lamps and paper lanterns with candles in them are placed in front of every Hindu and Tamil home on this Festival of Lights, to show Rama (the seventh incarnation of Vishnu) the way home from his period of exile.

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  • Holi

    The festival of colours, is known for the squirting of coloured water and the spraying of coloured powder on one another and on everyone else the revellers come across. The festival symbolises the victory of divine power over demonic strength. On the night before Holi, bonfires are built to symbolise the destruction of the evil demon Holika. This festival is held in February or March and is a noisy and cheerful festival.

  • Population and Religion

    Population and Religion

    At 31 December 1997, the population was estimated to be 1,120,530. It is divided into several ethnic groups, namely the Indo-Mauritians, creoles (that is persons having European, Madagascar and African origin) and Chinese Mauritians. Most of the festivities without fixed dates have been brought by the Indians but mostly by the tamilians. But there are also Chinese and Christian rites. The musical instruments that can be seen in Mauritius are the Ravane, a kind of big tambourine to give the rhythm for the tam-tam of the sega.

    FESTIVITIES

  • Varusha Pirappu

    Tamil New Year. Puthandu marks the Tamil New Year’s Day and is celebrated in the beginning of Chithirai - the first month in the Tamil Calendar year. The auspicious occasion of Puthandu is also popularly known as Varusha Pirappu or the birth of New Year and falls on 13th or 14th April according to the Gregorian Calendar. Many people in Tamil Nadu also celebrate Puthandu as the day when Lord Brahma - Hindu God of Creation started creation. People of Tamil Nadu celebrate Varusha Pirappu in a big way by merrymaking and feasting.

  • Chinese Spring Festival

    The festival begins on the eve of the Chinese New Year with an explosion of firecrackers to chase away evil spirits. New Years Day is in January or February and does not fall on the same day every year due to the irregularity of the lunar month. During the week before New Year's Day there is a thorough spring—cleaning of the home. Traditionalists make visits to pagodas on New Year's Eve with offerings and prayers of thanksgiving. The Day itself is a holiday for the Chinese community who celebrate by going to the beach.

  • Culture & Language of Mauritius

    The feasts in Mauritius are as various as the origin of the Mauritians and their religions.

    Visitors of the island shouldn't be afraid to attend the feasts.

  • Raksha Bandhan

    Hindu celebration. Raksha Bandhan is the Hindu festival that celebrates brotherhood and love. It is celebrated on the full moon in the month of Sravana in the lunar calendar.

    The festival is marked by the tying of a rakhi, or holy thread by the sister on the wrist of her brother. The brother in return offers a gift to his sister and vows to look after her as she presents sweets to her brother. The brother and sister traditionally feed one another sweets.

  • Teemeedee

    This is a Hindu and Tamil fire-walking ceremony in honour of various gods. The ceremonies occur throughout the year, but mostly in December and January. After fasting and bathing, the participants walk over red-hot embers scattered along the ground. The Hindu temples at Camp Diable, The Vale and Quatre Bornes are noted for this event. A feat along similar lines is sword climbing, seen mostly between April and June. The best demonstrations occur at Solitude, Triolet and Mt Choisy, in the northwest.

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