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Mauritius is a veritable melting pot of diverse cultures that exist together in harmony. First time visitors, who are not familiar with Mauritius’s culture, might be pleasantly surprised to hear that some of the festivals in Mauritius also include Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi and Eid.
With so many celebrations to set the festive mood, festivals in Mauritius will sweep you along in in their joy and passion.
Time your trip to coincide with any of these festivals to get an up-close peek into the Mauritian culture. Pick any one SOTC’s Mauritius packages and be on your way to a festive holiday.
This Tamil festival is one of the biggest festivals in Mauritius and is celebrated with much fervour. It is known for its fire walking and sword climbing ceremonies. Another astonishing feature is the devotees piercing their cheeks with small skewers as they dance, trance-like in their devotion.
A “Cavadee” refers to a wooden arch bearing flowers and a pot of milk on the top and below which is placed in front of the deity. People walk alongside the procession with brass pots of what they consider as sacred milk to place before their Lord Muruga. Come in January or February to witness this.
Every year on 8th December at sundown, all of Mauritius marches to the holy shrine of a 19th century French missionary called Jacques Desire Laval in Sainte Croix, Port Louis. Known for his healing powers, this day marks one of the biggest events in Mauritius and promises to be a spectacular sight for everyone because of the undeniable presence of a higher being reflected in their devotion.
The town is literally painted red during the Chinese New Year celebrations. Red is considered an auspicious colour by the Chinese. Each home prepares generous amounts of food to ensure the aura of abundance. Wax cake is eaten and shared with friends and neighbours. A grand fireworks display is the highlight of the festival. If you’d like to experience this for yourself, come in the months of January or February. The dates are based on the lunar calendar so check when it is before you leave.
