Radio Plus Brings Diwali Joy to Families and Roche-Terre

Radio Plus, one of Mauritius's most listened-to radio stations, is placing community at the heart of this year's Diwali celebrations, combining charitable outreach with a free public concert to mark the Hindu festival of light.

In partnership with AnAngel Mauritius, a local non-governmental organisation focused on social welfare, Radio Plus identified five vulnerable families to receive packs of ingredients, allowing them to prepare traditional Diwali sweets and meals at home. The station also shared cakes with those it reached during the celebrations, spreading festivity beyond its usual broadcasting role.

On 8 November, Radio Plus will co-host a free concert called Divali Night at Roche-Terre, a village in the north-east of Mauritius. The event is organised in collaboration with the District Council of Riviere-du-Rempart, the local government body responsible for the area. No ticket is required, making the concert accessible to residents across the district.

Diwali, also widely spelled Divali in Mauritius, is one of the most significant festivals on the island's cultural calendar. Mauritius has a large Hindu population, and the festival is a public holiday celebrated with the lighting of clay lamps, fireworks, the exchange of sweets, and prayers. It holds particular importance in rural and suburban communities in the north and centre of the island, where many families of Indian origin have lived for generations.

Radio Plus has long positioned itself as a station connected to Mauritian community life, and its Diwali programme reflects a wider trend among local media outlets and businesses to participate visibly in national festivals through social initiatives.

The involvement of AnAngel Mauritius highlights a growing model of media-NGO partnerships in Mauritius, where radio stations and television channels use festive seasons to draw attention to households facing economic hardship. With the cost of living remaining a concern for many families, the gesture of providing cooking ingredients carries practical as well as symbolic value.

The Roche-Terre concert is open to the public and free of charge. The District Council of Riviere-du-Rempart covers several communities along the north-eastern coast, including Grand Gaube, Goodlands and Poudre d'Or, and events held under its authority tend to draw families from across the wider region.

What this means: For residents in and around Roche-Terre and the Riviere-du-Rempart district, the Divali Night concert on 8 November offers a free community celebration with the backing of a well-known radio brand. For the five families supported through the ingredient packs, the initiative provides direct material help during a festival period when household spending typically rises.

Source: Le Defi Media