Mauritius Culture

Mauritius culture boasts a combination of various cultures from the history of Mauritius and separate cultures originating endemically. There are various components of the culture of Mauritius.

About Mauritius Culture

Mauritius culture comprises various components and they include festivals, cuisine, literature, sports, and music. The different components constituting Mauritian culture are described below:

Festivals and public holidays in Mauritius

Festivals and public holidays form a significant part of the culture of Mauritius. The variety and frequency of festivals and public holidays in the country bear testimony to the rich cultural tradition of the inhabitants of the island and its cultural multifariousness. Listed below are the important public holidays in Mauritius:

• 1 and 2 January - New Year
• 1 February – Abolishment of Slavery
• 12 March – Independence Day (National day)
• 1 May - Labor Day
• 15 August - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• 2 November – Arrival of bonded laborers
• 25 December - Christmas

There are various festivals and public holidays in Mauritius that are observed on different dates. Some of these festivals and public holidays are as follows:

Thaipoosam Cavadee (Hindu Festival)

This Hindu festival is observed in January or February. This is a popular festival for the Tamil population in Mauritius. Cavadee is one of the most favorite sports events on the island.

Chinese Spring Festival

The Chinese Spring Festival also marks the Chinese New Year. This festival is observed in January or February and the time is dependent upon the alteration in lunar days. The main color is red, which is the sign of joy.

Maha Shivratree

This Hindu Festival is held between February and March every year. This festival is observed to pay respect and offer prayers to Lord Shiva.

Ugadi Festival

The Ugadi Festival is a Hindu Festival and it is celebrated in the month of March. This festival marks the Telugu New Year.

Divali or Diwali   

Diwali is the most colorful of all Hindu festivals. This festival takes place between October and November every year.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is a popular Hindu festival, which is held between August and September. It is observed on the 4th day of the lunar month of Bhadra in the Hindu calendar to commemorate the birthday of Ganesha, the god of wisdom and prudence.

Eid-ul-Fitr

This popular Muslim festival is held between October and November every year. The precise time of this festival varies according to the visibility of the moon. It is observed to signify the conclusion of Ramadhan, the sacred month of fasting in the Muslim religion.       
 
Cuisine of Mauritius  

Mauritius cuisine features a blend of Chinese, Creole, Indian, and European cuisines. It is not unusual for a mix of cuisines to make a portion of the same meal. There is a strong influence of French cuisine on Mauritius cuisine and this is evident with French cuisines such as the civet de lièvre, daube, or coq au vin. All these dishes are best served with exotic wine.        

Literature of Mauritius

In spite of the fact that Mauritian is the most frequently spoken dialect in Mauritius, majority of the Mauritian literature is published in French language. Writers in Mauritius use languages like Bhojpuri, English, and Mauritian Creole (Morisyen). Writers like Abhimanyu Unnuth use Hindi Language. The famous dramatist of Mauritius, Dev Virahsawmy, pens his books in Morisyen language.

Popular writers of Mauritius include the following:

• Ananda Devi
• Lindsey Collen
• Malcolm de Chazal
• Loys Masson
• Raymond Chasle
• Edouard Maunick
• Marcel Cabon

 

There are other writers who have also achieved considerable popularity and they are Amal Sewtohul, Shenaz Patel, Alain Gordon-Gentil, Natacha Appanah, Khal Torabully, and Carl de Souzae. Their literary works focus on culture, politics, and superstition. Prominent poets of the country include the following:

• Edouard Maunick
• Hassam Wachill
• Yusuf Kadel
• Sedley Assone
• Umar Timol  

The most coveted award in the field of literature is the Le Prince Maurice Prize.

Sports in Mauritius

Rugby is one of the most popular sports in Mauritius. Football has also gained some popularity.

Music of Mauritius

The music of Mauritius is famous for sega music. There are other types of music such as soukous and reggae that have become quite popular. Sega is the transformation of quadrilles and polka, two European forms of music, blended with regional rhythms and instruments. Contemporary sega often features influences from reggae, zouk, soukous, and other genres of Latin American music.

Distinguished singers from Mauritius include the following:

• Serge Lebrasse
• Ti Frére
• France-based Clarel Betsy
• Cassiya

Asian music and rock music are also becoming popular in the country.