Divali 2026: Mauritius Celebrates the Festival of Light
Thousands of Mauritian households marked Divali on Sunday with prayers, sweets and the lighting of lamps, with one family in Sainte-Croix opening their doors.
Divali, the Hindu Festival of Light, was celebrated across Mauritius on Sunday 8 November 2026, with thousands of families taking part in age-old rituals of devotion, sharing and togetherness.
The evening news programme on Le Defi Media, titled "Les Coulisses de la Lumiere" (Behind the Light), offered viewers an inside look at the celebrations, focusing on a family in Sainte-Croix, a neighbourhood in the Port Louis area with a long-established Hindu community.
The report followed family members as they prepared traditional Divali sweets, known locally as "gateaux" or mithai, and lit the first diyas, the small clay oil lamps that are central to Divali observance. The lighting of diyas is meant to symbolise the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
Divali is one of the most widely observed festivals in Mauritius, where Hindus make up the largest religious group, accounting for roughly 48 percent of the population. The occasion is a public holiday on the island, and celebrations typically include the decoration of homes with coloured lights, the sharing of food with neighbours and relatives, prayers at home and in temples, and community gatherings.
Sainte-Croix, located just north of the capital Port Louis, is home to a dense residential population and a number of Hindu temples, making it one of the more vibrant spots for Divali observance each year.
The festival falls on the 15th day of the Hindu month of Kartik, corresponding to the new moon night, which is why the lighting of lamps plays such a central role in the rituals. Families typically begin their preparations days in advance, cleaning and decorating their homes and preparing handmade sweets to offer guests and neighbours.
In Mauritius, Divali also carries a broader cultural significance beyond the Hindu community. It is widely seen as a national celebration, with schools, businesses and government offices often joining in the spirit of the occasion in the days leading up to it.
The Le Defi report gave audiences across the island a window into the quieter, more personal side of the festival, away from the large public displays, showing how traditions are kept alive within the home.
Source: Le Defi Media
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Divali celebrated in Mauritius?β
Divali falls on the new moon night of the Hindu month of Kartik, which typically lands in October or November. In 2026, Mauritius celebrated Divali on Sunday 8 November. It is a public holiday in Mauritius.
How is Divali traditionally celebrated in Mauritius?β
Mauritian families celebrate Divali by lighting clay oil lamps called diyas, decorating their homes with coloured lights, preparing and sharing traditional sweets such as mithai, and attending prayers at home and in Hindu temples. Sainte-Croix, near Port Louis, is one of the most active areas for Divali celebrations on the island.
What percentage of Mauritius is Hindu?β
Hindus make up approximately 48 percent of the Mauritian population, making them the largest religious group on the island. This is why Divali is a national public holiday in Mauritius and one of the most widely observed festivals of the year.
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