Do not miss Ganesh Chaturthi in Mauritius! Celebrated island-wide, the festival honors the Hindu god with an elephant head. You’re welcome to join the attraction!
Throughout the event, you’ll be blown away by processions of devotees dancing and chanting on the streets. You’ll see the most colorful and impressive effigies of Lord Ganesh on miniature platforms being carried with tremendous zeal.
The sound of drums and bells will fill the environment with joy. And that’s not all! Other groups will soon join the celebrations, all walking towards the sea or river.
You have just witnessed Ganesh Chaturthi in Mauritius. You are fascinated by the festival. But what does it all mean? Why are those beautiful statues immersed in water? It looks a bit strange…
We’re so excited to share this short explanation with you! It’s our hope that it will help you understand what’s going on and discover our amazing culture.
Lord Ganesh is associated with water, which is one of the five elements of the universe. That’s why the statues are made of clay. They will dissolve in liquid so that Ganesh can return to his element. Until next year, when he’ll return to Mother Earth to preside over another Ganesh Chaturthi in Mauritius!
Devotees bring a clay statue of Lord Ganesh to their homes where the deity is worshipped with daily offerings of delicacies. Morning puja or offerings complete the rituals. Ganesh is dressed, bathed and cared for as a member of the family.
Ganesh at home …
After 10 days it’s time to say goodbye and carry the statue of Lord Ganesh to the water in colorful processions. The clay statues are gently lowered into the sea or river and slowly disappear.
As usual, legends abound. The most popular tells the story of Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. One day, while taking a bath, Parvati rubbed some dust and oil from her body. She created the form of a boy.
One day Parvati rubbed some dust and oil from her body and created the form of a boy while taking a bath. She then breathed life into the form and Ganesha was born.
Parvati told her son to guard the door when she was taking a bath. Lord Shiva came for a visit, and Ganesh did not want to let him in. How was Ganesh to know that Shiva was his father? So he fought with Shiva. In the ensuing scuffle, Ganesh’s head was severed.
As you can imagine, Goddess Parvati was very upset. She begged Lord Shiva to let her son come back to live. Shiva sent his men to find a replacement head for Ganesh. The instructions were to bring the head of the first living creature they found facing north, a direction associated with wisdom. The rest is history
The elephant’s head symbolizes wisdom and knowledge. An elephant does not go around obstacles, it removes them and goes forward. Devotees believe that worshipping Ganesh will bring them these qualities and remove their difficulties so that they can achieve their goals.
His large ears mean that Ganesh listens to the prayers of his devotees.
Look at his four hands. See what they hold?
When sitting, Ganesh has one foot on the ground and the other on his knee. It’s not because he feels more comfortable in this pose… It means that the wise person lives on the earth without attachment to anything material.
Well, this also has a deep meaning. Rats represent desire and greed. They nibble all day long, looking for food and even storing it. They symbolize our desires. Once they are satisfied, we want to replace them. We keep looking for more.
Ganesh Chaturthi in Mauritius is celebrated on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 and Sunday, September 8, 2024. Both days are public holidays.
We have many festivals throughout the year. With so many religions, it’s not surprising. Take a look at the best festivals and choose from the most important ones. As a tourist, it would be nice to combine one of our cultural events with your vacation. Come celebrate our rich heritage with us!
I have also prepared a calendar with a list of national holidays, including the most important festivals and religious celebrations.
I hope you have enjoyed reading about Ganesh ‘The Lord of Beginnings’ for all Hindus. The beloved God of wealth and wisdom is celebrated with much love during Ganesh Chaturthi in Mauritius.
FAQ –
Who is the god of Mauritius?
Several other Hindu gods, including Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Lord Muruga, Goddess Durga, and Lord Hanuman, are also worshipped here.
What to avoid during Ganesh Chaturthi?
Follow the proper rituals and muhurat (auspicious time) while performing Ganpati sthapana (installation). After installing the idol, avoid eating non-vegetarian, onion, and garlic tamasik foods. Refrain from consuming alcohol and tobacco during this sacred time.
When does Ganesh Chaturthi fall this year?
The ideal time for Ganesh Sthapna this year is between 11:07am and 1:34pm on 19th September. Then after Sthapna he will be worshipped with full rituals and devotion for 10 consecutive days. And then on the last day he will be immersed in water on the day of Anant Chaturdashi.
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