Hinduism in Mauritius

Hinduism in Mauritius

Hinduism originally came to Mauritius with Indians who worked as indentured servants of European settlers of the island.cite web |url= http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2003/4-6/18-25_mauritius.shtml|title= The Hindus of Mauritius|accessdate=2007-04-25 |date=2003|last=Malik|first=Rajiv|work=Hinduism Today|publisher=Himalayan Academy ] As of 2000, 48% of the country follows Hinduism.cite web |url= https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mp.html|title= Mauritius|accessdate=2007-04-25 |work= World Factbook|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency]

Hindu Temples in Mauritius

1. Port Louis - chokklingam meenakshi temple2. Shiv Shakti Temple

Major Hindu festivals

These first Hindus of Mauritius were a heterogeneous lot. They arrived in great waves from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in the North of India and from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in the South. Others came from Maharashtra and Gujarat. Despite the disparity of their origins, they found themselves united in hardship, for life as an indentured servant was extremely difficult, humiliating and sometimes even cruel.

One of the biggest festivals on the island is Mahasivaratri, "Siva's Great Night." During this annual Hindu celebration, which takes place in the months of February and March, four to nine days of ceremony and fasting lead up to an all-night vigil of Siva worship.

Other important Hindu festivals in Mauritius

1. Thai Pusam, honoring the South Indian God Muruga. Although it is officially a Tamil holiday, thousands of non-Tamils join in to carry kavadi (like kanwar).

2. Ganesha Chaturthi, a festival occurring on a public holiday assigned to the extensiveMarathi-speaking community, celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha and just as readilyattracts all the island's Hindus, since this God is the Patron of Harmony and is worshipedin all Hindu temples.

3. Diwali, "the Festival of Lights," also known as Dipavali.Divali is so popular it is proclaimed a national public holiday in Mauritius. Not only doesit cut across Hindu ethnic barriers, it crosses a few Christian ones as well. During thisspecial time, all temples and some churches light lamps with wicks dipped in oil, and truereligious solidarity is felt in an all-encompassing mood of cheerfulness and joy.

References

Template group
list =


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mauritius —    The British acquired the island nation of Mauri tius in the Indian Ocean from the French in 1814 as part of the Treaty of Paris. Sugar production on the island flourished under the British, who imported large numbers of African slaves to work… …   Encyclopedia of Hinduism

  • Mauritius — For other uses, see Mauritius (disambiguation). Not to be confused with Mauritania. Coordinates …   Wikipedia

  • Africa, Hinduism in —    Hinduism is practiced throughout the African continent but is primarily focused in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Ghana. According to 2000 census data, nearly 1 million Hindus live in South Africa, the largest concentration of followers on …   Encyclopedia of Hinduism

  • Hinduism in South Africa — has a following primarily in KwaZulu Natal, due to historical patterns of migration to the region. But now a significant population exists also in Gauteng, especially around Lenasia. Approximately 1.22% or 551,669 of the South African population… …   Wikipedia

  • Hinduism — An article related to Hinduism …   Wikipedia

  • Mauritius — Mauritian, adj. /maw rish euhs, rish ee euhs/, n. 1. an island in the Indian Ocean, E of Madagascar. 880,781; 720 sq. mi. (1865 sq. km). 2. a republic consisting of this island and dependencies: formerly a British colony. 1,154,272; 809 sq. mi.… …   Universalium

  • Hinduism by country — The percentage of Hindu population of each country was taken from the US State Department s International Religious Freedom Report 2006 . [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/] Other sources used were CIA Factbook… …   Wikipedia

  • Nepalis in Mauritius — Total population 500 Regions with significant populations Port Louis Languages English · Nepali Religion Hinduism  …   Wikipedia

  • Outline of Mauritius — …   Wikipedia

  • List of Mauritius-related topics — This is a partial list of topics related to Mauritius. Geography * Le Morne Brabant * Trou aux Cerfs Landforms Banks * Hawkins Bank * Nazareth Bank * Saya de Malha Bank * Soudan Banks Bays * Baie du Tombeau Islands * Islets of Mauritius * Agalega …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”