There is certainly no shortage of Festivals and Holidays here in Maruitius. Since I arrived almost 5 weeks ago, I have seen 4 nationally recognized holidays come and go: Eid-al-Fitr, Divali, All Saints Day, and Arrival of Indentured Servants.
As I live in a coastal town, I see most of these days celebrated by family beach outings. Yesterday, a day clebrating the arrival of indentured servants (predominantly from Asia), was especially vibrant in my neighborhood. All day families celebrated by spending the day (or weekend for many) in tents and elaborate temporary settlements lining the beach. Several nearby Indian organizations had set up large tents selling goods, playing music, and enjoying the rainy but seaside.
Jon and I stopped at the Hare Krishna tent for some snacks and to watch the dancing after taking a walk on the crowded shore. The sandy beach was lined with incense, flowers, and fruits as well as throngs of swimmers and a few elaborate sand castles.
The next holiday is Christmas, one with which I am quite familiar. I hope Jon and I will be able to celebrate it in a tent on a beach as well.
0 Responses to “A Quick Cultural Note”