New Year

Like in many countries around the world, New Year in Mauritius is celebrated with a bang!

Chinese Spring Festival

The Chinese New Year falls on a different day every year because of the adjustment of lunar to solar days.

Abolition of Slavery

Slavery abolition was abolished in Mauritius in 1835 by the British regime.

Thaipoosam Cavadee

Cavadee is celebrated in January/February primarily by Hindus of Tamil origin in honour of Kartikeya, the elder son of Siva.

Maha Shivaratree

"The Great Night of Siva." Hindu devotees set on foot pilgrimage from all over the island for the sacred lake at Grand Bassin

Ugaadi

Ougadi or the Telugu New Year is celebrated in the month of March.

Eid-Ul-Fitr

Eid-Ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadhan, the Muslim holy month of fasting. Depending on the visibility of the moon **

Labour Day

It was celebrated for the first time in Mauritius on 1 May 1938, and for the first time as an official public holiday on 1 May 1950.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated by Hindus of Marathi origin on the 4th day of the lunar month of August/September, as the birthday of Ganesha

All Saints Day

This is a Christian festival where people go to mass before going to leave flowers on the tombs.

Arrival of Indentured Labourers

Indentured labourers came from India to replace the slaves as a source of cheap labour to work in the sugar cane plantation

Divali

Divali is celebrated in October/November and marks the homecoming of Rama after his victory over Ravana and also commemorates Krishna's destruction of the demon Narakasuran.

Christmas

Christmas Day is one of the biggest Christian celebrations and falls on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar.

New Year

Like in many countries around the world, New Year in Mauritius is celebrated with a bang!