Mauritius – An important Hindu pilgrimage site outside India

Each year a spectacular pilgrimage takes place - The Maha Shivarati – a Hindu festival that honours Lord Shiva together with Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. One of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites outside India is found in Mauritius. Grand Bassin is a crater lake situated in the mountanious part of the South-West part of the island and considered the most sacred Hindu place on the island. Each year for Maha Shivarati devotees visit the lake to commenorate the Great Night of Lord Shiva. Some will walk for several days to reach the lake. According to Hindu mythology Shivarati symbolizes the wedding day of Lord Shiva when he married Goddess Parvati.

I have been to Grand Bassin several times, but not at the time of any festivals. Yesterday was the day of Maha Shivarati. When I saw photoes from Grand Bassin and the festival posted on facebook I decided I have to share this place. If you are planning a holiday in Mauritius, do make sure to visit Grand Bassin. A place not to missed. My photoes are from two different visits.

Mauritius was uninhabited until 1598 when a group of Dutch sailors landed and claimed the island for the Netherlands. The people who later inhabited the island came from Africa, Asia, Europe and India,creating the ethnic melting pot we see today. All the main religions are representet. Almost every town has a mosque, pagoda, a church and a colorful Hindu temple. The Indians in Mauritius came as laborers to work in the sugar cane field after the abolition of slavery during the 19th. century. To day the descendants make up about 2/3 of the population. This is how the Hindu religion has become the largest on the island.

At the entrance a large statue of Lord Shiva wellcomes visitors and devotees. The statue is 33 m. tall and visible from allmost anywhere you are standing. Actually, it's the third second highest statue of Shiva in the world!

The main temple found along side the lake is built in honour of Lord Shiva. But also smaller shrines and colorful statues dedicated to Hindu deities are found by the lake. Like Ganesh, the elephant God. Hanuman, the monkey God, the Goddes Parvarti, Lord Shiva, Vishnu etc.

Devotees will come to pray and make offerings. The smell of flowers and incence is notable. It is a pleasant and peaceful place, with a spiritual atmosphere. The scenery around the lake is lovely. Walk all the way around and you will see the temples from different angles.

How did Grand Bassin become the most sacred place on the island? It happend in 1897. A Hindu priest who lived in the north of the island had a dream. In the dream he saw a holy lake with connections to the sacred river Ganges in India. Because of the dream he started to search for this lake. After some time he came to Grand Bassin and saw a lake which he recognized as the lake from his dream. The following year pilgrims started to walk to Grand Bassin. In 1972 a Hindu priest brought sacred water from river Ganges to Mauritius and poured it into the lake. Since then the name of the lake is also Ganga Talao. Ganga, as in Ganges and Talao which means «pool». Since then, Mauritius has its sacred lake, just like India has river Ganges.

Grand Bassin is open to visitors and devotees any time of year. No entrance fees. But it is a holy place and one has to dress modestly and also remove shoes. If interested in culture and religion, a visit will be a highlight of your holiday.

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U.J

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All the photoes are mine, Ulla Jensen (flickr, Instagram and facebook)

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