7 Beautiful Temples in Mauritius & Colourful Festivals

Mauritius is a lot more than its serene beaches and spellbinding locales, it's a Hindu-dominant island nation with many Mauritian Temples. There has been a rapid influx of Indians on Mauritius island since 1835, leading to the Hindu community gaining traction. The community stands united and celebrates all the festivals and customs with great enthusiasm. With almost 50% population being Hindu, there are bound to be some opulent temples on this island paradise. 

These are the most sacred temples in Mauritius:

1. Maheswarnath Shiv Mandir (Triolet Temple)

The temple of Maheswarnath is the first and most revered Hindu temple in Mauritius with a legacy of more than 130 years old. Locally known as the Grand Shivala Triolet, is the abode of Lord Shiva, and it gets the name Maheswarnath, which means the Great Lord. Other than being the biggest and one of the oldest of its kind on the entire island, the Maheswarnath Mandir is also famous for its association with the first pilgrimage to Ganga Talao, which is the sacred lake found right in the centre of Mauritius. Established by Pandit Shri Sajeebunlall Ramsoondur of Bihar in 1888, this temple was built on the site of a defunct sugar factory in the village of Triolet. The priests and images of the deities were sourced from India.

Built-in the Bengal style of temple architecture, the grand edifice is a variation of the Pancha-Ratna or a five-flowered temple built on a platform. The main temple houses the sacred Shivalinga along with the idols of Shiva's wife Goddess Parvati, his children Ganesha and Kartikeya and the gatekeeper - Nandi. Another avatar of Lord Shiva - Lord Bhairava also resides in this complex. Apart from the main temple, there are temples in the complex devoted to Goddess Laxmi, Lord Nataraja, Lakshmi-Narayana, Lord Hanuman, Lord Jagannath, Goddess Kali, Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Durga. In the centre of the temple complex resides a smaller temple housing the smaller lingam from Kashi (Varanasi, India) brought by Pandit Ramsoondur and is thus referred to as the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

Location: Shivala Road, Triolet, Mauritius.
Timings: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM

2. Ganga Talao

Ganga Talao (meaning ‘Lake of Ganga’), also known as Grand Bassin, is a crater lake located in the Savanne district of Mauritius and is believed to be the most sacred Hindu site of the island nation, deriving its name from its symbolic connection to the Indian river Ganga. Dedicated to deities like Shiva, Hanuman, Ganesh and Ganga, there are temples on the banks of the lake. There are also statues of several Hindu and non-Hindu Gods and Goddesses like Durga, Mangal Mahadev (Shiva) and Buddha.

It is an annual ritual for the Hindus in Mauritius to make a pilgrimage to the Ganga Talao during Maha Shivratri in February and March on foot while carrying Kanwars. A towering 33-metre tall statue of Lord Shiva carrying his trident has been erected near the lake making it the tallest statue in all of Mauritius. During Durga Pooja celebrations are also held here.

Location: Grand Bassin, District Savanne, Mauritius

Timings: Visit before the evening

3. Sagar Shiv Mandir

4. Sri Prasanna Venkateswara Temple

5. Pandurang Kshetra Mandir

6. Sri Siva Subramanya Temple (Mountain Temple)

7. Surya Oudaya Sangam Temple

One of the oldest Tamil temples in Mauritius, the Surya Oudaya Sangam Temple is a riot of colours that can be visible even from a considerable distance.  Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple has a typical South Indian style of architecture, and the entire façade of this majestic temple is decorated with sculptures and carvings of representations of various Hindu deities, including Shiva, Ganesh and Durga. The main hall inside the temple is an open hall with massive pillars, and there are quite a few colourful paintings on the ceiling as well, which are very interesting to look at.

Location: Grand Baie, Mauritius

Hindu Festivals in Mauritius

The community celebrates in perfect harmony all major Indian festivals and has constructed several places of religious significance that are significant places of interest for the Mauritian tourism industry. These temples in Mauritius are the major congregation venues for the Hindus residing on the islands of Mauritius. They serve an essential role in the community-building process and are the focal point for celebrations and festivals.

Some of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus in Mauritius are:

1. Diwali - The festival of lights. This is one of the most famous religious festivals of Mauritius and celebrations aren't just limited to the Hindus. Diwali is a national public holiday in Mauritius.

2. Ganesha Chaturthi - The birth anniversary of Ganesha. The festival is celebrated with much gusto by the Marathi community.

3. Holi - The festival of colours is a multi-hued celebration with coloured powder (Gulaal) and water flying all around. Preparation of Gujiyas - a unique Indian sweet delicacy in homes is a favourite tradition.

4. Makar Sankranti - Celebrated during the onset of spring, Makar Sankranti marks the harvest season of crops. Flying colourful kites on this day is an essential part of the celebrations.

5. Thaipoosam Cavadee - Celebrated the South Indian Hindus, it is celebrated to mark the day when the Devas defeated the Asuras with the help of Skanda, a warrior created by Lord Shiva.

Mauritius' religious landscape is vibrant and dynamic. Being a secular nation, all citizens, including Hindus are free to practise and celebrate their religion without any hindrances. In fact, one estimate revealed that Mauritians on an average spend of more than 700 hours each year engaged in religious activities. If you are planning to visit Mauritius on your next trip, make sure that you blend in with the locals and join them in celebrating the festivals to enjoy your trip truly!