Culture & Language of Mauritius - Mauritius

The feasts in Mauritius are as various as the origin of the Mauritians and their religions.
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Visitors of the island shouldn't be afraid to attend the feasts.
New Year (January 1st & 2nd) / Yaum un Nabi (January) day of death of prophet Mohammed / Chinese New Year (beginning/mid-February) the dragon runs in Port Louis / Thai Poosam-Kavadee (end January/beginning of February) very important holiday for the Tamils, with processions, ritual washing. As penitence they pierce their bodies and tongues with needles and walk over glowing coals. / Eid-Ul-Fitr (mid February) end of the fasting month Ramadan.
Maha Shivaratree (end of February) Hindus make a pilgrimage to the sacred water of Grand Bassin / Holi (March) feast of the colours; Hindus throw coloured water on one /  

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Independence Day (March 12th) / Easter (End of March / beginning of April) / Eid-El-Adha (August / September) Muslims sacrifice sheeps and lambs and give it to friends and relatives / Père Laval pilgrimage (September 9th) not only Christians make a pilgrimage to the grave (Ste.Croix) of the holy father who at life time has primarily looked after the poor people and the slaves.
Divali (October) happy feast of the Hindus; the victory of the Good over the Bad is celebrated with many lights / All Saints' Day (November 1st) / Ganga Asnan (November) Hindus go to the sea to take a holy bath there / Teemeedee (December) highlight of this Hindu feast is the run over glowing coals.
The languages are also various in Mauritius: official language and the language taught at school is English while the french language dominates the public life. The colloquial language which is spoken by everyone is Creole. In many families one speaks also Indian languages, the Chinese Canton and the Arabian dialects.