7 good reasons to join thousands of pilgrims to feel the verve of Maha Shivaratree festival in Mauritius. 

1. GOOD REASONS TO GO ON
THE MAHA SHIVARATRI
PILGRIMAGE
7

2. Every year, during the Maha Shivaratri festival, thousands of pilgrims flow along
the roads of Mauritius and converge to the sacred lake of Grand Bassin. People
of other faith often join the procession to feel the verve of this great Hindu
festival… Why not you?

3. As you join the Maha Shivaratri
procession, you will mingle with
the crowd of pilgrims heading
to the sacred lake of Grand
Bassin and share an exceptional
moment with them. Enjoy the
convivial atmosphere and seize
the opportunity to chat with the
devotees to learn more about this
festival. You will not feel alone
since a growing number of non-
Hindus join the procession to
satisfy their curiosity for other
cultures.
Meet the
pilgrims
1.

4. All along the pilgrimage to the lake, you will
witness several rituals, which tell a great deal on
the Hindus’ deep faith and devotion. You will learn
a lot on traditions they inherited from their Indian
forefathers. The Hindu culture is widely present on
the island since Hindus represent about 48% of the
local population, and 68% of the Mauritian people
are of Indian origin.
Culture & Traditions2.

5. Maha Shivaratri also is the occasion to indulge in tasty
pleasures such as hot tea with sweet milk and Indian
specialities that you will hardly find outside the festival
season. All over the island, volunteers set up tents along the
pilgrimage route to offer free drinks and food to travellers,
some of who have been walking for several days. After a few
hours walking, you will not resist a tasty break with both
sweet and savoury food to taste.
Tasty
breaks
3.

6. Maha Shivaratri is long walk of several
days, especially for those who want to
go the whole way from home to the
sacred lake. You do not have to do that
much, but an evening walk of just a few
hours is enough to make the most of
this experience and really immerse into
the festival’s spirit. From Grand Bassin, a
fee-based shuttle service is available to
visitors who want to catch a quick ride
back home.
A Healthy
Walk
4.

7. We highly recommend that you set to
arrive at Grand Bassin by night or in early
morning. A night walk is more convenient
to avoid the hot temperatures of March
during the day. Moreover, the site is filled
with a special flair at night: lights reflect
in the lake, religious songs and incense
rise in the air, and the place takes on a
mystical aura.
Grand Bassin
by Night
5.

8. As you come closer to the site, you will immerse
in a totally different world. Large roads and
sidewalks, along which pilgrims shuffle in a
final effort, have been built to accommodate
thousands of visitors. At the end of the path,
a huge statue of the Lord Shiva welcomes you
with its serene and confident face. Then, you will
discover the lake, the temples, the music and the
prayers, which will carry you far away…
Immerse into
another world
6.
Photo credit: Minesh Ramchurn

9. For all the foregoing reasons, the Maha Shivaratri
pilgrimage really is a unique experience you will
not get the chance to live anywhere else. You will
leave the place in bewilderment, as if waking up
from a mysterious dream… This journey is to be
lived with your partner or your family, with a group
of friends or alone for the more adventurous.
A unique
experience
7.

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Photo credit: Minesh Ramchurn

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