In Mauritius, the return of sunny days in the last months of the year is an invitation to celebrate. Festivities start at the end of October with Divali, a Hindu festival in honour of the goddess of light, Lukshmi. All over the island, buildings and houses are decorated with colourful lights, offering an enchanting night sight. Later in the year, Christmas trees (here, filao trees usually replace the traditional coniferous tree) will be adorned with multicoloured light strings and tinsel.
Christmas under our latitudes has nothing to envy of the northern “white” Christmas. Embellished in an explosion of warm and shiny colours, shop windows attract a bustling crowd. In the ever-crowded shopping centres and malls, Christmas carols fill the air. Gift shopping and holiday preparations result in a joyous hustle and bustle, which reaches a climax on the 25th December, around the traditional Christmas table.
In the evening of the 31st December, the year ends in a blaze of fireworks in every part of the island, and the new year is welcomed at the sound of firecrackers.
Lying back on a deckchair, facing the turquoise lagoon of crystal water down in the South West of Mauritius, with an outstretched arm, I liberally applied refined coconut oil on my skin
Read moreWhile occasionally strolling through the cobbled streets of Port-Louis, lined with basalt structured buildings, I am inevitably reminded of the French presence in the city, in the country.
Read moreChamps de Mars (oldest racetrack in the southern hemisphere) situated at Port Louis is at its boiling point. Saturday horse racing is in the starting block.
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