island. Since that time, the migration of Indians
to the island has steadily increased. Indians of all
faiths now constitute about 68 percent of the total
population.
Most Hindus in Mauritius were from Bihar
and Uttar Pradesh in northern India and Tamil
Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in southern India.
Many migrated to escape the drought and poverty
that had ravaged regions of India during much
of the mid-19th century. Others were enticed by
the prospects of owning land. Large numbers of
migrants from India continued to enter Mauritius
until 1922, when contracts of indentured servi-
tude were discontinued.
From their first days in Mauritius, Hindus
were much more organized and had greater politi-
cal leverage than their compatriots in other colo-
nies with sizable Indian populations. Conditions
for the indentured laborers were deplorable, but
Hindus did not face severe persecution because
of their religion. Throughout their residence in
Mauritius, Hindus established temples, gained
recognition of their religious festivals as public
holidays, and maintained frequent contact with
the Indian homeland. When MOHANDAS KARAM-
CHAND GANDHI visited Mauritius in the early 20th
century he was impressed by the social justice and
activism of the Hindu population on the island.
Overall, Hinduism has enjoyed success and lon-
gevity there.
The earliest temples were constructed in the
mid-1880s on the sugar estates by traders and
indentured laborers. They were dedicated to
Annam and KARTTIKEYAN, or Murugan. At present
there are over 250 Hindu temples on Mauritius.
Temples serve as centers for many traditional
Hindu festivals. MAHASHIVARATRI, SHIVA’S Great
Night, is one of the largest. The annual celebra-
tion is designated a national holiday for those
of North Indian descent. The festival involves
a nine-day ceremony of fasting that concludes
with a night-long worship service to Shiva.
Other popular festivals in Mauritius include Thai
Pusam, a celebration of the South Indian God
Murugan. The festival is recognized officially as
a Tamil holiday, but Hindus of all origins join
the celebration of the deity. DIVALI, the festival
of lights, is another popular festival proclaimed
as a national holiday, in which both Hindus
and non-Hindus celebrate. During the height of
Divali observances, Hindu temples and Christian
churches are lit with many earthen lamps to sym-
bolize dispelling the darkness of ignorance. The
festival of Divali represents religious solidarity
across ethnic barriers.
Hindus in Mauritius have established strong
traditions of both VAISHNAVISM and SHAIVISM. Addi-
tionally, reform movements such as ARYA SAMAJ
have increased in popularity over recent years. In
2000, a celebration of the 125th anniversary of
Arya Samaj drew over 15,000 people to more than
165 fire rituals.
Other organizations that have made their
home in Mauritius over the decades include
the INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CON-
SCIOUSNESS, the VEDANTA RAMAKRISHNA SOCIETIES
MAT H AND MISSION, the Chinmayananda Mis-
sion, and the Swami Lakshmanacharya Vishwa
Santi Foundation. In 1983, Swami Krishnananda
converted an infirmary established in 1888 in
Calebassus into an ASHRAM and AYURVEDIC health
care center that houses over 200 poor and needy
residents.
Hindus in Mauritius still frequent pilgrimage
centers in India, even as several sites have been
established on the island for pilgrimages. One
such destination is Spiritual Park, established in
1999 by Satguru Sivaya SUBRAMUNIYASWAMI, to
house worship, music, education, and other activ-
ities. The park features three eight-foot statues
of GANESHA, Dakshinamurti, and Lord Murugan
(KARTTIKEYAN), hand-carved in MAHABALIPURAM,
India.
Hinduism remains the dominant religion of
Mauritius. A 2000 census estimated that there are
over 500,000 Hindus on the island, making up to
44 percent of the total population.
See also DIASPORA.Mauritius 281 J