Divali in Mauritius

Public holiday and dates

Mauritius’s Public Holidays Act lists the day of celebration of Divali among the country’s public holidays. The Act also lists Sundays as public holidays; it does not set a fixed calendar date for Divali, which the Mauritian government describes as falling in October or November.[1][2]

Under the Workers’ Rights Act, workers are entitled to a normal day’s pay for a public holiday other than a Sunday when it falls on one of their normal working days. The Act’s wording does not establish that every worker has the day off.[4]

Meaning and Mauritian context

The National Heritage Fund’s inventory identifies Divali, also called Deepavali, as a Hindu festival of lights and sharing. It explains the name as a “row of lights” and identifies the associated community as Indo-Mauritians, while noting that people beyond this community participate. The government describes Divali as marking the victory of righteousness over evil in Hindu mythology.[2][3]

The inventory gives India as the festival’s perceived origin. The Mauritian government records the arrival of Indian indentured labourers in the nineteenth century, after the abolition of slavery.[2][3]

Lights, food and celebration

The government’s account says households traditionally placed clay oil lamps outside their homes; decorative electric lights have now mostly replaced them. The National Heritage Fund also records homes decorated with lamps and lights, rangoli floor designs at doorsteps, and firecrackers as part of local observance.[2][3]

Sharing food is a prominent part of the Mauritian festival described in the heritage inventory. Families prepare cakes to share with relatives, friends and neighbours regardless of community. The inventory names gato patate, made with sweet potato, coconut and flour, as a special cake for the occasion.[3]

The same inventory records cultural shows held around the island on the eve and day of the festival. These details describe practices recorded by the National Heritage Fund; households and localities may celebrate differently.[3]

Practical arrangements

The Public Holidays Act provides that an act required before a judge, court officer or government official on a public holiday may lawfully be done the following day. It does not specify opening hours for shops, banks or public transport, so check with individual services when planning errands or travel.[1]