Fairs & Festivals :-
People of various faiths, especially Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians, make up the Mauritian community, which contributes to the many festivals and events held throughout the year. The peak season for Mauritius vacations is late December to early April.
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Thaipoosam Cavadee: Cavadee is one of Mauritius' most vibrant and important festivals, dedicated to Lord Murugan, a famous god among the Tamil people who make up a significant portion of the population. During this ten-day period, people fast, pray, and abstain from all worldly pleasures, including vegetarian food. Following that, magnificent celebrations are held in Hindu temples all over the country.
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The Chinese Spring Festival: In Mauritius, the Chinese New Year is celebrated in the most colourful way possible. Port Loius and the Sino Mauritian Culture are both brightly lit and lively, immediately raising everyone's spirits. This is one of their favourite festivals to celebrate because the Chinatown area of the city has such a lively and cheerful energy. You can see street lion dances, dazzling fireworks, and a number of other activities.
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Ganesh Chaturthi: Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival celebrated by the Hindu community in Mauritius. It commemorates the birth of Ganesh, the Hindu god. Hindus go to their temples and to the riverbanks or beaches with small replicas of the elephant-headed God on this day. Clay and mud have historically been used to create these replicas. Before sunset, they are submerged in water. Families prepare a number of delicacies to share with friends and relatives.
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Independence Day: Every year on March 12th, Mauritanians gather to commemorate the country's independence and the founding of the state in 1968. It's a national holiday characterised by parades, special activities, and patriotism. The majority of the action takes place on Port Louis' waterfront.
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Holi: This Indian festival of colours is also popular on Mauritian shores. On the eve of the Holi festival in Mauritius, bonfires are lit to commemorate the legend of Holika, and the day itself is marked by colours, colour arms, and the traditional colours played with friends around large grounds, set to music and drinks. In this mode, more daring individuals can resort to using water balloons for a fun battle.
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The Lantern Festival: This is without a doubt one of Mauritius' most famous festivals. The Chinese group comes together in costume and puts on parades full of glitz and glam. When you walk down the streets, you can sense the joy in the breeze. The Lantern Festival's Dancing Dragons are a must-see attraction, and the fierceness of the entire setting is exciting to witness.
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Ghoon: This festival in Mauritius commemorates the martyrdom of Inam Hussein and is vibrantly observed by a minority of the Muslim community in Mauritius. Inam Hussein was a Prophet Mohamed descendant. In Port Louis, a parade is held in this regard on the streets of Plaine-Verte.
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Father Laval Day: In 1841, Jacques-Désiré Laval arrived in Mauritius as a healer and missionary. Pope John Paul II made him the first male to be beautified. On September 9, the feast day of Father Laval, Mauritians of all faiths gather in Sainte Croix, Port Louis, to pay their respects to this icon of love and compassion.
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Eid-ul Fitr: The Eid-ul-Fitr festival is celebrated with great pomp and display by the island's huge Muslim population. The festival is characterised by prayer meetings in the morning when people congregate to hear a message of peace and seek the Lord's blessings. It is observed at the end of the holy month of Ramzan, when Muslims fast and participate in ritualistic prayers. People later swap sweets, including popular sweetmeats.
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Mid-Autumn Festival: This lavish celebration, also known as the moon festival, marks the start of the Chinese calendar's harvest season. Mooncakes take over St. Louis and other cities on the island during this period. The Chinese residents of Mauritius give prayers and offerings to the moon goddess, and the whole city comes to life with all the bright lights and dragon costumes.
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Thimithi: The Walk on Fire festival is the most important festival for the Tamil community in Mauritius. It takes place in either December or February. There is a ten-day 'purification' process. People meditate, pray, and fast during this time. Devotees visit the temple on the 11th day and walk barefoot on charcoal embers.
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Diwali: Diwali, the annual festival of lights, is observed by Mauritius' large Hindu population to commemorate the victory of good over evil. It occurs in late October or early November and is marked by cake consumption as well as the lighting of candles, electric bulbs, and earthen lamps.
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Christmas: Every year, the island's limited but significant Christian community hosts an evocative Christmas celebration to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. However, the festival is observed in the island, with carols and Santa Clauses aplenty. This festival is observed by citizens of various faiths, and most stores and offices will have a Christmas tree that will be decorated from head to toe.
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All Saints Day: On November 2nd, Christians in Mauritius commemorate All Saints Day. This day is dedicated to remembering and recognising those who have passed away. It also commemorates the arrival of Mauritius' first Indian labourers. In Mauritius, this day is also a national holiday.
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International Kreol Festival: The International Kreol Festival, which started in 2005 and takes place in early December, is a four-day celebration of Creole culture in Mauritius. Traditional dancing, music, and games are among the events, which culminate in an all-night grand concert on the final day.
Cuisine :-
Creole, Chinese, French, and Indian cuisines have all influenced Mauritian cuisine. Whether it's street food or fine dining, Mauritius has something for everyone. Sauces that have been simmered for hours are the foundation of Indian and Creole cuisine.
French dishes such as Coq au vin and Indian curries are common here. Menus are heavy on fish, with lobster being a particular specialty. Because of the French influence, a wide range of wine is normally available, but visitors might also want to try the locally produced rums. Most luxury resorts have at least one fine dining restaurant, but Indian street food is available at the more casual end of the spectrum.
The most popular street food on the island is Dholl Pori, a Mauritian version of a Paratha with Dal.
Golden pineapples, refreshing coconuts, and luscious mangoes are only a few of the fruits that can be cultivated on the fertile volcanic soil thanks to the tropical climate. Any discussion of Mauritius cuisine would be incomplete without discussing the island's legendary seafood.
Some worth trying dishes are:
Rougail is a Reunion Creole specialty. It is mainly made with tomatoes, onions, garlic (hence the name), ginger, and spices in Mauritius.
The briani (also known as biryani) is a traditional Muslim dish from northern India that is popular in Mauritius.
Vindaye: Vindaloo is a dish that originated in western India and was introduced to Mauritius under the name vindaye. It's made with mustard, vinegar, onions, spices, and other ingredients, and it's served cold. It's ideal for fish.
Carry (or curry) and curry: the carry is a set of spices, not a single spice. Curry is the name of a dish (cari-chicken, curry-fish) that includes carry (the collection of spiky spices).
Chinese restaurants often sell inexpensive mine frite (chicken fried noodles), bol renversé (multiple layers of rice, chicken or other meat or shrimps, and vegetables in a bowl, then we unmold everything in the plate), Chinese soups, breaded fish, shrimp fritters, and other Chinese dishes.
Rice is the staple food and goes with almost everything.
Brèdes: This is the "verdure," or anything that resembles a large green leaf (including the edible leaves of some vegetables), such as spinach, sorrel, chouchou, watercress, petsa (a type of lettuce), Taro leaves, and so on.