Mauritius mingles in the spirit of Maha Shivaratri

Big occasion in Little India
2022-03-01
/
/ New Delhi
Mauritius
Mauritius mingles in the spirit of Maha Shivaratri

Mauritius is often referred to as mini-India (Photo: Soumish Dev)

Maha-Shivaratri is a major festival not just in India but also in Mauritius. Celebrated to honour Hindu deity Lord Shiva, devotees in Mauritius pilgrimage to Ganga Talao, a small lake believed to be connected with the Holy Ganga River.
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Thanks to an overwhelming proportion of its population of Indian origin, the island nation of Mauritius is often referred to as mini-India or Chhota Bharat. The connection with India is most strongly visible during various cultural and spiritual events that are celebrated in Mauritius in exactly the same way as in India.

One such event is Maha-Shivaratri, one of the most auspicious festivals, that is celebrated with much intensity and devotion in Mauritius. The devotees make a pilgrimage to Ganga Talao, a deep crater lake and Shiva temple in the south west of the island, where they gather to worship, chant, meditate and make offerings of leaves from the sacred Bael (or Bilva) tree.

Before the long journey, thousands of pilgrims take the time to carefully decorate their ‘Kanwars’, an ornamental bamboo pole traditionally carried on the shoulders with water pots balanced at either end – though in recent times these are often far more elaborate affairs. Once at their destination, the pilgrims observe a fast and along with Bilva leaves, make special food offerings to Shiva based on seasonal fruits and root vegetables. They also collect holy water from the lake to take back to their own local temple where it is offered to the Shiva Linga. The most devout worshippers remain for the prayer rituals of Char Pahar ki Puja, a four-part ceremony which takes place overnight. However, Covid-19 protocols are strictly being followed this year.

On Maha-Shivaratri the devotees make a pilgrimage to Ganga Talao

Ganga Talao is a crater lake situated in a secluded mountain area in the district of Savanne, deep in the heart of Mauritius. It is about 550 m above sea level and is considered the most sacred Hindu place in Mauritius. The Shiv temple is located on the bank of the lake and there are also other temples dedicated Hanuman, Ganga and Ganesh, along the Grand Bassin. The lake premises has a number of statues of various Hindu and non-Hindu deities, the most prominent of these are the massive statues of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga.

Ganga Talao bears a festive look throughout the day as thousands of devotees gather there for prayers and celebrate a national holiday in this Little India.

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