Cap sur Maurice Destination Immobilier - Edition 2019 Edition 2019 | Página 39

MAURITIUS ISLAND DISCOVERY
Religion
The population is so diverse that there is no official religion
in Mauritius. Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and other
world religions live together, creating a unique cultural mosaic
of churches, mosques and various temples. In this melting pot
of religious practices, the majority communities are of Hindu
origin. Once a year, a great pilgrimage is organised on the site
of Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao, a sacred lake lined with huge
statues of Shiva and Durga Mata).
The second religion of the island, Catholicism is practiced
by minorities from Africa, Europe and Asia. Some of the oldest
religious buildings on the island are Christian, such as the
Saint François d’Assises church in Pamplemousses or the Port
Louis cathedral. Father Laval, a French missionary who was
sent to Mauritius in late 19th century to ease the burden of the
poor, is considered a saint by most Mauritians, of all religions.
Each year, a pilgrimage is organised to honour his memory.
Islam, the third religion of Mauritius, is practiced by 15% of the
population. There are many mosques throughout the island,
in which is celebrated for instance the night of Shabaan to
mark the beginning of Ramadan, or the night of Miraj for the
ascension of Muhammad to heaven. And finally, Buddhism is
the 4th religion, and is practiced by three different community
groups : Cantonese, Hakkas and Fukienese. The Sino-Mauritian
community has its own festivals, such as the Lantern Festival
and the Chinese New Year.
Tradition
Not unlike other countries on the planet, Mauritius has its
own traditions. The « Sundowner » is a traditional weekend and
holiday ritual whereby Mauritians meet on the beach to enjoy
the last rays of the sun; a very pleasant moment, especially in
summer. During the weekend, many Mauritians, along with their
family or friends, go to the beach where the Sega is usually belted
out to the beat of the ravanne, a traditional instrument, and
succulent local dishes such as briani, various curries, rougaille
saucisse (sausages in tomato sauce) and many others can be
enjoyed. The close proximity of these diverse Mauritian cultures
has given birth to wonderful and unprecedented community and
intercultural interactions. Some festivals and religious traditions
are indiscriminately celebrated by the entire population, as for
example the exchange of cakes during the festival of Diwali, a
Hindu celebration.
Horse racing is also very popular. Races take place at the
Champ de Mars, in Port Louis, the oldest racetrack in the Southern
Hemisphere. On horseracing days, thousands of Mauritians flock
to the track to bet on their favourite horses. The atmosphere is
unique and folkloric, and is a once in a lifetime experience.
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