Public holidays and festivities of Mauritius

Due to their cultural diversity the Mauritians have a calendar in which many different festivities are to be found. The most important ones shall be enlisted here. Whenever you have the chance to attend such a festivity, don’t miss it. You will always be warmly welcomed.

Chinese spring festival: End of January – Beginning of February. Festive parades with dancing dragons, lions of paper-mâché and fireworks.

Thaipoosam Cavadee: Beginning of February. Tamil day of the penitent, which is celebrated with ritual mortifications, washings and fasting.

Maha Shivatree: February - March. A three-day Hindu festival, during which thousands of Hindus pilgrimage to Grand Bassin to sanctify themselves in the water of the lake, which is holy according to their belief. 

National Holiday: 12. March. Parades and festivities are held in memory of the foundation of the state.

Holi: March. A merry festival of fire and colours. The Hindu population besprinkles everyone who crosses their way with coloured water and powder.

Assumption Day: 15. August. This day is celebrated by the Christians with huge processions.

Ganesh Chaturi: September. Hindu festivity in honour of Ganesh, the god of wisdom, good luck and success.

Jaques Désirée Laval: 8./9. September. On the anniversary of death of the French missionary and doctor, who is believed to have had miraculous healing powers, a Christian procession to his tomb takes place.

Eid-Ul-Fitr: October-November. The Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, with prayers, gifts and a briani feast.

Divali: Oktober – November. The Hindu festival of lights reminds of the victory of the god Rama over the demon Ravana. Thousands of candles, oil lamps and chains of lights enlighten the streets of the island.