Mauritian Family Celebrates Diwali With Lights and Joy in France
The Seetohul family from Trou-d'Eau-Douce marked the Hindu festival of lights in southern France, sending warm wishes to Mauritians back home.
Every year, Diwali brings families together across the world, and for the Seetohul family, distance from Mauritius has done nothing to dim the spirit of the festival.
On Sunday 8 November, four siblings, ElΓ©nore, Edouard, Maxime and William Seetohul, celebrated Diwali in the south of France with their family. The children of Pravesh and Julie Seetohul marked the Hindu festival of lights with the warmth and traditions familiar to any Mauritian household, thousands of kilometres from the island.
Their father, Pravesh, is originally from Trou-d'Eau-Douce, a coastal village on the east coast of Mauritius known for its calm lagoon and fishing community. He has lived in France for more than a decade, raising his family while keeping Mauritian cultural traditions alive.
The four children took the occasion to send their greetings and good wishes to Mauritians celebrating at home.
Diwali, known in Mauritius as the festival of lights, is one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals on the island. It marks the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, and is observed by lighting oil lamps called diyas, sharing sweets, and gathering with loved ones. In Mauritius, where Hindus make up the largest religious group, Diwali is a national public holiday and a moment of community celebration that extends well beyond the Hindu population.
For Mauritians living abroad, the festival often takes on added meaning. Recreating the rituals of home, lighting lamps, preparing traditional food, and reaching out to family on the island, becomes a way of staying connected to a cultural identity that travels with them.
The Seetohul family's celebration is a small but vivid reminder of how Mauritian culture continues to thrive in the diaspora. Communities of Mauritians have settled across France, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, and many maintain strong ties to the island through language, food, religion and festivals like Diwali.
Whether celebrated on the beaches of Trou-d'Eau-Douce or in a home in the south of France, the festival of lights carries the same message: family, continuity and the enduring warmth of Mauritian culture wherever it takes root.
Source: Le Defi Media
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Diwali a public holiday in Mauritius?β
Yes, Diwali is a national public holiday in Mauritius. The country has a large Hindu population, which makes up roughly 48 percent of the island's residents, and the festival of lights is one of the most widely observed celebrations on the island each year.
Where is Trou-d'Eau-Douce in Mauritius?β
Trou-d'Eau-Douce is a small fishing village located on the east coast of Mauritius. It is known for its calm turquoise lagoon, local fishing community, and as a departure point for boat trips to the nearby Ile aux Cerfs, a popular tourist destination.
How do Mauritians in the diaspora celebrate Diwali?β
Mauritians living abroad typically celebrate Diwali by lighting diyas (oil lamps), preparing traditional sweets such as gateau patate and ladoo, gathering with family and friends, and sometimes organising community events at Hindu cultural associations found in countries like France, the UK and Australia.
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