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.
The cavadee is a woodern arch decorated with flowers and palm leaves, with pots of milk (sambos) suspended from each end of the base. Devotees carry the cavadee from the bank of a river to a temple in order to fulfil a vow in honuor of Subramanya, the second son of Lord Shiva, and to pay penance and cleanse their soul . Before the procession commences, skewers are threaded through the tongues and cheeks of devotees. Custom dictates that reasonable pace be maintained because the milk in the sambo must not have curdled by the time it reaches the temple.
Curepipe is the best base for trekkers and for stocking up before your walk. Due to the lack of public transport over mountain roads in the island's southwestern corner, access to most trailheads will require private transport or a taxi ride. For lowland walking, take into accounts the heat and humidity. If you prefer walking on the highland plateau, come prepared for rain at any time of the year, especially from October to March.
This house is the Mauritius governor's residence, now used by the military. Unfortunately the house is open to the public only two days a year, in March and October.
Le Reduit, which means 'refuge', was built in 1778 by the French governor Barthelemy David, who succeeded Mahe de La Bourdonnais. You can still walk around the gardens. The grounds are open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to noon.
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.
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.