Mauritius festival calendar
Hindu, Tamil, Muslim, Chinese, Christian and Creole: Mauritius celebrates all year.
Many Mauritian festivals follow a lunar calendar, so their dates change every year. For those, we only give the usual month: check the exact date before you travel. Most festivals are open to respectful visitors.
| Festival | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1–2 January Fixed date | Two public holidays, family gatherings and fireworks at midnight on 31 December. |
| Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) | January or February Dates change yearly | Red decorations, firecrackers and dragon dances, especially in Port Louis Chinatown. |
| Thaipoosam Cavadee | January or February Dates change yearly | Tamil devotees carry the decorated cavadee to the temple, many with their cheeks and bodies pierced after days of fasting. |
| Abolition of Slavery Day | 1 February Fixed date | Public holiday remembering the abolition of slavery in 1835, with commemorations at Le Morne. |
| Maha Shivaratri | February or March Dates change yearly | Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, many dressed in white, walk to the sacred lake of Grand Bassin. Expect closed roads around the pilgrimage routes. |
| Holi | February or March Dates change yearly | The festival of colours: coloured powder and water in the streets and villages. |
| National Day | 12 March Fixed date | Independence (1968) and Republic Day (1992). Flags, ceremonies and a public holiday. |
| Ougadi | March or April Dates change yearly | Telugu New Year, celebrated with prayers and family meals. |
| Eid al-Fitr | Changes each year Dates change yearly | End of Ramadan: prayers, family visits and sweets shared with neighbours. Moves about 11 days earlier each year. |
| Labour Day | 1 May Fixed date | Public holiday with political rallies. |
| Fête de la Musique | 21 June Fixed date | Free concerts in towns across the island, from sega to rock. |
| Assumption | 15 August Fixed date | Catholic feast with church services and processions. A public holiday in some years (it alternates with All Saints Day). |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | August or September Dates change yearly | Statues of Ganesha are carried to the sea, rivers and lakes and immersed. |
| Père Laval pilgrimage | Night of 8–9 September Fixed date | Pilgrims of all faiths walk through the night to the shrine of Father Jacques-Désiré Laval in Sainte-Croix, Port Louis. |
| Divali | October or November Dates change yearly | The festival of light: clay lamps on every doorstep, fireworks and sweets shared with neighbours. |
| Arrival of Indentured Labourers | 2 November Fixed date | Public holiday remembering the first indentured workers who arrived at the Aapravasi Ghat in 1834. |
| Festival Kreol | Usually late in the year Fixed date | A celebration of Creole culture, music and food, with sega concerts. |
| Christmas | 25 December Fixed date | Midnight mass, family lunches and very busy beaches on the 25th. |
When visiting a temple or watching a procession, dress modestly, take off your shoes where asked, and always ask before photographing people praying.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Cavadee in Mauritius?
Thaipoosam Cavadee follows the Tamil calendar, so it usually falls in January or February. The exact date changes every year.
Can tourists attend Maha Shivaratri at Grand Bassin?
Yes, respectful visitors are welcome. Dress modestly, remove shoes where asked and expect large crowds and road closures.
When is Divali in Mauritius?
Divali usually falls in October or November and changes yearly. It is a public holiday.