Diwali, Mauritius

Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the Hindu year, and Hindus all over Mauritius celebrate this event as enthusiastically as they do in India.

The common name of the festival is a corruption of the Sanskrit word Deepavali - Deepa meaning light and avali, which means row. Beautiful rows of twinkling candles and lamps are lit all over the island to celebrate the return of the hero of the Ramayana, Rama, from his 14 years of exile. The lights symbolise the rows of light that were lit along the streets upon Rama's return to his home city of Ayodhya.

Besides celebrating the victory of good over evil and light over darkness, the little flickering lights also symbolise the beginning of summer.

Many gods preside over this festival, but the most important is Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and material prosperity. The main day of the festivities is seen as a particularly auspicious day for merchants to make up their accounts and balances for the previous year, to go unburdened into the next.

After the morning prayers, Hindus share sweets prepared specially for the occasion with family members, neighbours and friends of any faith, in accordance with the multicultural spirit of Mauritius. For more information contact the Mauritius Tourist Office at info@mtpa.mauritius.net or telephone +230 2101545.