Maha Shivaratri
This celebration occurs over three days in February/ March and is the largest and most important Hindu festival held outside India. One of the days over which it is held is a public holiday. Most of the island’s Hindu population make the pilgrimage to the holy volcanic lake, Grand Bassin in honour of Lord Shiva. Many pilgrims, dressed in white, start walking in groups from their village a day or two beforehand, depending on how far they have to travel. They carry a kanvar, a light wooden frame or arch decorated with paper flowers. The majority of pilgrims, however, arrive in buses for a day trip. A constant stream of contract buses leaves from Bonne Terre (between Ouatre Bornes and Vacoas). The queues are long but move quite quickly. At the lake, some pilgrims perform a puja by making food sacrifices in the water or at various shrines, others bathe, and many take sacred water home. Events are much the same as those which take place on the banks of the Ganges in India. On the return journey from the lake, the pilgrims who are walking or riding are given fruit and drinks by people in the villages they pass through.
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Travel Highlights
Deep sea fishing: Some of the finest game fishing available occurs in the deep water surrounding Mauritius. Maha Shivaratree Festival: In February or March the Hindus honour Lord Shiva by making aPopulation 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 havingCulture & 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.
New Year (January 1st & 2nd) / Yaum