Port Louis Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Port Louis, Mauritius)

The cultural melting pot that is Mauritius ensures a healthy and colourful calendar of events throughout the year, with Port Louis offering plenty of interest at any time. All of the main Hindu religious dates are celebrated by the large Indian community, as are many Muslim holidays and Tamil festivals.

Add to this a growing schedule of cultural events unique to Mauritius and you've got a good chance of being around during one of these must-see cultural attractions and festivals. No matter which month you choose to holiday in Port Louis, you won't be lacking in things to do on this diverse island.

Port Louis Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• New Year's Days - January 1st and 2nd, two national holidays in Mauritius
• Thai Pongal - January 14th, to mark the end of harvest season, brightly painted cows are given rice pudding to symbolise cleansing and thanksgiving. This is a major Hindu festival and attended by the island's large Indian community
• Tamil Festival (Thaipoosam Cavadee) - late January / early February, the Tamil population across the island honours Lord Subramanian during this important fiesta. The Thaipoosam Cavadee is an impressive display of religious devotion and fervour

February

• Abolition of Slavery Day - January 1st, a public holiday remembering the historic and important days of abolitionism
• Chinese New Year - Mauritius has a large Chinese community, and during their festive lunar new year week you can expect plenty of red lanterns and extra activities. The city's Chinatown district is the place to be for this raucous party
• Holi - the Festival of Colour is a highlight for the island's large Indian community. Hindus all over Mauritius celebrate good harvests with street parades, music and dancing
• Hindu Festival (Maha Shivaratri) - late February / early March, during this important religious event, thousands of Hindu pilgrims dress in white and walk to the Grand Bassin volcanic lake. They collect holy water from the lake, creating one of the most lovely visual spectacles the island sees

March

• Independence Day / National Day - March 12th, this national holiday is celebrated by the whole island to remember the gaining of independence in 1968 and the establishment of the Republic of Mauritius in 1992. Special events, parades and other civic activities are held in the waterfront district of Port Louis, as well as at many other prominent destinations on the island
• Telugu Festival (Ougadi) - mid-March, the Hindu-based Telugu New Year sees a host of traditional celebrations and parties all across the island

April

• Indian Ocean Rowing Race - this epic race pits competitors against each other to complete the 4,825 km / 3,000 miles of the course. Starting in Western Australia, this 80-day event finishes up in Mauritius

May

• Labour Day - May 1st, one of the island's main civic holidays gives all government employees a day off. Nothing special happens on this day, but you can be sure that the locals will be out and about enjoying themselves
• Duchess of York Cup - the annual horse racing season in Mauritius gets underway with a classic cup race. The Champ de Mar Racecourse in Port Louis is where the action happens

June

• Mauritius Marathon - this annual race could easily win first place for the most beautiful course on the planet. Runners start at Tamarin and continue some 42 km / 26 miles along a coastal path to Saint Felix

July

• Barbe Cup - every July, the second major horse racing cup race takes place at the Champ de Mars track in Port Louis. This track is the second-oldest in the world, so there's plenty of history behind its yearly events

August

• Christian Festival (Assumption of the Virgin Mary) - mid-August, an important religious holiday in Mauritius
• Kiteival - the amazing spectacle of kite surfing takes place at several sites along the southern and eastern coasts of the island. Different kinds of events range from speed to acrobatic skills
• Marathi Festival (Ganesh Chaturthi) - late August / early September, a national Mauritian holiday

September

• Pere Leval's Day - devotees flock to the shrine of Pere Leval at Sainte Croix, to commemorate his birthday. The saint is considered the holiest person in the Indian Ocean and draws huge crowds to his chapel for this occasion
• Opera Mauritius Festival - mid-September, for an entire week, the best musicians and singers from the island and abroad stage top-class performances of one major opera. Other opera-based events are also planned in Port Louis during this festival
• Eid ul Fitr - this feast day marks the end of Ramadan for the Muslim community on the island. The mosques across Mauritius become hives of activity on this welcome day

October

• Diwali (Divali / Deepavali) - October / November, Hindus all over Mauritius celebrate this important date. The 'Festival of Light' sees candles and lanterns emerge on every Indian's doorstep, illuminating the towns of the island

November

• Arrival of Indentured Labourers Day - November 2nd, another public holiday in Mauritius
• Muslim Festival (Eid ul-Fitr) - November / December, a three-day Muslim holiday marking the end of daytime fasting during Ramadan
• All Saint's Day - November 1st, one of the more interesting holidays on the island, with a range of parties akin to Halloween for adults. Port Louis and a handful of other locations organise special events to mark this auspicious day

December

• Festival International Kreol - the beaches, parks and other public areas of Mauritius hold special events to celebrate Creole culture. Amazing dance performances and live music concerts generate parties that last until sunrise