Festivals and faiths: an island of many calendars

A multi-faith society

Mauritians descend from enslaved Africans and Malagasy people, European settlers, indentured labourers from India and Chinese migrants. The result is a religious mosaic in which Hinduism, Christianity (mostly Catholic), Islam and Buddhism coexist. Temples, churches, mosques and pagodas often stand on the same street, and the official calendar reflects that diversity.

Public holidays in 2026

Mauritius has around fifteen public holidays. In 2026: New Year (1 and 2 January), Abolition of Slavery and Thaipoosam Cavadee (1 February), Maha Shivaratri (15 February), Chinese Spring Festival (17 February), National Day (12 March), Ougadi (19 March), Eid al-Fitr (around 20 March, depending on the moon), Labour Day (1 May), Assumption (15 August), Ganesh Chaturthi (16 September), Arrival of Indentured Labourers (2 November), Diwali (8 November) and Christmas (25 December). Religious festival dates change every year.

Festivals worth knowing

• Thaipoosam Cavadee: a Tamil festival honouring the god Murugan. After a period of fasting, devotees carry the cavadee, a decorated structure, in procession, and some pierce their skin as an act of devotion.
• Maha Shivaratri: the great night of Shiva, marked by the pilgrimage to the sacred lake at Grand Bassin.
• Spring Festival: Chinese New Year, with firecrackers, dragon dances and wax cakes, especially in Port Louis's Chinatown.
• Ougadi: the Telugu New Year.
• Eid al-Fitr: the end of Ramadan, a time to share dishes and pastries with neighbours.
• Ganesh Chaturthi: the celebration of the birth of the god Ganesh.
• Diwali: the festival of lights; homes and streets glow with small oil lamps and fairy lights, and sweets are shared.
• Christmas and the Assumption: celebrated by Christians and, in the case of Christmas, very widely by everyone.

The Père Laval pilgrimage

A French missionary who arrived in Mauritius in 1841, Father Jacques-Désiré Laval devoted his life to former slaves, learning their language and caring for the sick. When he died on 9 September 1864, some 30,000 people followed his coffin. Beatified by John Paul II in 1979, he lies at Sainte-Croix, near Port Louis. Every year, on the night of 8 to 9 September, crowds of all faiths come to pray at his tomb.

Tips

Festivals are often open to visitors: just ask before taking photos, cover shoulders and knees in places of worship and take off your shoes where that is the custom. Note that some shops and services close on public holidays.