Cultural Mauritius

Mauritius is the perfect example of a multicultural nation. The heterogeneous population has diverse origins with 1.2 million having ancestors of Indian, African, Chinese and European origin. This peaceful harmony between the different cultures adds to the beauty of the paradise island. A visit to Mauritius is an enriching and unique human experience.

Our mother tongue “Creole”, a patois of French and Afro-Malagasy languages, is spoken by virtually all Mauritians and is the ‘ancestral language’ of 36 percent of the population. Still many are conversant in English, French, Hindi, Urdu, Mandarin (Chinese) and other heritage languages.

As a result of this diversity of cultures and origins, there are many religious festivals which are celebrated in Mauritius. Our ancestors have brought many customs and beliefs from their native country. In order to better understand and appreciate the beauty of the various religious festivals in Mauritius, one needs to experience it.