13 Festivals in Mauritius – For a Vibrant Experience Like Never Before

This beautiful island of Mauritius is a land of different cultures and traditions. The multicultural ecosystem of this island allows visitors to experience the traditions of people from all over the world. Not only does it welcome you to pristine turquoise waters and verdant forests but also to the vibrant cultures that have formed thus far. If you want to have a relaxing weekend while also being able to enjoy and celebrate with the locals, keep reading!

Given, Mauritius is home to multiple religions and cultures, a plethora of festivals are celebrated here with full vigour. If you are planning on travelling to Mauritius, you might want to align your dates to these festivals so you can make the most out of your trip. These festivals definitely make your travel experience a lot more worthwhile.

Here’s is a list of the 13 most famous festivals that are celebrated in Mauritius

• The Chinese Spring Festival- 25th January
• The Lantern Festival- 8th February
• Thaipoosam Cavadee- 8th February
• Thimithi- 10th February
• Holi- 9th-10th March
• Sunburn Beach Festival- First week of May
• Wellness Festival Mauritius- 22-24th May
• Eid Ul Fitr- 23rd-24th May
• Ganesh Chaturthi- 22nd August
• Pilgrimage to Father Jaques Desire Laval- 9th September
• Ghoon- 10th September
• Mid- Autumn Festival- 1st October
• Christmas- 25th December

1. The Chinese Spring Festival: 25th January

The Chinese New Year is celebrated in the most colourful ways possible in Mauritius. Port Loius and the Sino Mauritian Community are all lit up and so vibrant lifting everyone’s spirits instantly. The Chinatown part of the city has an energy that is so vibrant and cheerful making this one of their favourite festivals to celebrate. You can witness street lion dances, spectacular fireworks and many other fun events happening in this area. Tourists are more than welcome to celebrate with the locals and dance the night away.

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2. The Lantern Festival: 8th February

This is hands-down one of the most popular festivals of Mauritius. The Chinese community come together dressed up in costumes and host parades that are all things fancy. You can feel the happiness in the air as you wade through the streets. The Dancing Dragons are an iconic part of The Lantern Festival and the fierceness of the whole setting is absolutely thrilling to watch.

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3. Thaipoosam Cavadee: 8th February

This is yet another important festival that is celebrated in Mauritius. Tamilians are a significant part of the Mauritian community and Cavadee is dedicated to Lord Murugan. The Hindu Tamilians fast for 10 days while offering prayers and not indulging in worldly pleasures. On the 10th day, they come together to celebrate at the Sockalingum Meenatchee Amman Kovil where you can see them carrying Cavadees to the temple. These are wooden boxes that are tastefully decorated with peacock feathers, flowers and idols.

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4. Thimithi: 10th February

Thimithi is also a festival that is celebrated at the end of the 10 day fasting period that the Tamil Hindu’s in Mauritius follow. The word Thimithi literally translates to ‘walking on fire’ which is what devotees do. After the fasting period is done, they head over to the temple and walk on burning coal to prove their faith. They soak their feet in milk after this to soother the burns. This is one of the most reverently watched events on the island.

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5. Holi: 9th-10th March

The festival of colours which is a top favourite of Indians, is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm in Mauritius. Bonfires are lit remembering the Goddess Holika on the eve of Holi. You can also see locals going all out on the day of Holi with colourful powder and water pistols. This is a fun way to spend time as a community. There is energetic music laying and drink will be served as well making it all the more wild. This is undeniably one of the most vibrant festivals celebrated in Mauritius.

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6. Sunburn Beach Festival: First week of May

Music festivals automatically turn up the vibe of a place. Getting to witness Sunburn which is a globally acclaimed music festival happens on this beautiful island is nothing but magical. This adrenaline-pumping festival is organised at Turtle Bay every year in the first week of May. You can groove to beats dropped by world-famous DJs and musicians. This as people call it might just turn out to be an unforgettable experience for all the good reasons.

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7. Wellness Festival Mauritius: 22-24th May

Mauritius is a very organised place and they take topics such as health and wellness very seriously. In order to create awareness about mental and physical health, this festival is organised. This three-day festival is held every year in the C beach Club of Heritage Resorts. With the perfect ambience set amidst nature, it is a wonderful way to celebrate your wellbeing, Mauritius style.

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8. Eid Ul Fitr: 23rd-24th May

Eid Ul Fitr is celebrated by the countries vast Muslim community at the end of the holy month of Ramzan. The Muslims fast and pray throughout the day and they also have community prayers happening every morning. A message of peace and blessings is offered and everyone exchanges sweets and wishes. Eid is celebrated with a lot of pomp and grandeur making it one of the most joyous festivals of Mauritius.

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9. Ganesh Chaturthi: 22nd August

The birthday of Lord Ganesha is another favourite festival in Mauritius. This Hindu festival that is celebrated in India had made its way to Mauritius as well where the celebration is nothing short of elaborate. Hindus on the island worship Lord Ganesha and the idols are carried to the nearest rivers and the ocean and immersed in water. This is carried out by the locals who dress up in their fanciest clothes and celebrate all the way as the parade goes by. This is the time when Bollywood music makes its presence huge. If you by any chance can schedule your vacation around this time, you are in for a treat.

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10. Pilgrimage to Father Jaques Desire Laval: 9th September

One of the most traditional celebrations that happen in Mauritius is when the Catholics and the other people of the community come together to visit the tomb of the most beloved priest- Father Jaques Desire Laval. This missionary is known for his charisma and he is also responsible for converting almost 70000 people to Christianity during his time on the island. He is also known for performing miracles which led to the cross-community appeal.

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11. Ghoon: 10th September

Ghoon is a Shia festival that marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussein. A small Muslim community carry our processions and parades in the streets of Plaine Verte in the port city of St. Louis. They get dressed in colourful costumes and carry props as they march around the port city.

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12. Mid- Autumn Festival: 1st October

Also called as the moon festival, this elaborate celebration marks the harvest season of the Chinese calendar. During this time, mooncakes take over St.Louis and other cities on the island. The Chinese people who live in Mauritius offer their prayers and sacrifices to the moon goddess and the whole city comes to life with all the colourful lights and dragon ensembles.

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13. Christmas: 25th December

Christmas is celebrated all over the island in the most pompous way possible. You can see Santa Clause’s and people carolling everywhere. Almost every shop on the island has a very tastefully decorated Christmas tree and people exchange gifts and wishes to one other.

It’s always a unique experience to celebrate a festival in another country. It allows you to witness the beauty of each culture and their traditional practices. Check out Pickyoutrail.com for the interesting Mauritius holiday packages and see if you can align your travel dates to these wonderful festivals.

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