More than just a beach paradise: Mauritius' multicultural side

Mar 2, 2010, 11:44 GMT

Port Louis, Mauritius - The word Mauritius immediately sparks images of long, white sandy beaches, coral reefs and luxury hotels. The Indian Ocean island has even more to offer visitors thanks to its melting pot cultural mix of Hindus, Christians, Muslims and people of other faiths who live here side by side.

Walking along a street in the capital you might see a Tamil temple on one corner with a food stand selling Hindu items in front. The next corner might have a mosque with Muslim families streaming inside, while a few metres further Catholics could be celebrating a wedding.

Mauritius appears not only to be a paradise for tourists but also an example of a well balanced society. 'We Mauritians are a rainbow of cultures,' says Nagessen Soobroyen. Soobroyen is a Hindu taxi driver who lives in the middle of this nation of 1.2 million people. Racism has no place on Mauritius, believes the 35-year-old.

Naturally crime does exist and not every Mauritian would marry a person outside their own religion but peaceful coexistence is still the maxim here.

That might have something to do with the island's history. It was discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 16th century but a short time later it came into the possession of the Dutch. Later, the French took control but they were eventually replaced by the British. Each of those nations left their mark. Cars drive on the left-hand side of the road as in Britain while many towns have French names.

When slavery was abolished on Mauritius in 1835 immigrants from around the world came to settle here. Most of them were Indian Hindus who worked hard in the island's sugar cane plantations but Chinese also came to trade.

Today, visitors to Mauritius can follow in the foot steps of those early migrants. In the south of the island is a place regarded as holy by Hindu residents; the Grand Bassin, one of two lakes. The lake is surrounded by the walls of an extinct volcano and according to legend it contains water from the River Ganges in India. Hundreds of thousands of people come here during religious holidays.

Just in front of the lake stands an enormous statue of the Hindu god Shiva while on the shoreline can be found colourfully decorated miniature statues of other gods. Entire families come here to leave offerings such as flowers or bananas, and light incense sticks.

Hinduism is the island's main religion and over half the population follow the faith. Many gardens contain mini temples with red flags decorated with symbols that indicate which Hindu god is worshipped there.

Common sights on the island are the very colourful Tamil temple buildings. Their tall towers and walls are lovingly decorated with painted figurines and even when the weather is poor the temples glow in lush hues of green, yellow, red and blue.

The most obvious signs of the island's Christian population are its neatly ordered graveyards and the church Notre Dame Auxiliatrice situated on the northerly Cap Malhereux. The church is a popular spot to get married and seems a little out of place to non-islanders thanks to its surroundings of exotic plants and the tropical temperature. The church's bright red roof and oversized cross also add to the effect.

However, nowhere is the island's melting pot history more evident than in the capital Port Louis. The city's large market stretches across several halls and levels, and Indian baked goods are sold beside Chinese medicinal herbs. Tourists can be seen strolling leisurely around the newly opened shopping area in the harbour or dropping into the Blue Penny Museum where the famous blue and orange Mauritian stamp can be viewed.

Chinatown is a great place to buy fresh lychees, melons and bananas in street stalls. Signs with Chinese characters hang from the stalls, advertising the wares to be bought there. Behind a plain facade is a Chinese supermarket with a pharmacy. Along with dried fruits, sweets and Chinese firecrackers you can also buy traditional medicines and medicinal potions.

Almost right beside the gateway to Chinatown is Jummah Mosque on Rue Royal. Teenagers like to gather here ahead of afternoon lessons as well as women exchanging the latest news. Inside the quiet courtyard there is nothing to indicate the presence of the hustle and bustle of life outside the mosque's walls.

But back on the main street you are back in the hurly burly of life on Mauritius: a trader sells miniature bride and groom models for a Christian wedding cake while a French chanson can be heard coming from the windows of a passing taxi.