Mauritius Culture, Arts & Society News
A melting pot of African, Indian, Chinese and European influences, Mauritius has a vibrant cultural life. Explore coverage of Sega music and dance, Creole heritage, Diwali, Eid and Chinese New Year celebrations, arts festivals, prominent personalities, and the social issues shaping Mauritian society.
97 Culture stories · Updated continuously · MauritiusNews.com
Nearly 4 Million Slavery Records Now Online, Including Mauritius
A major historical archive covering the lives of enslaved people across 20 former British colonies, including Mauritius, has been made freel…
Chinatown Food and Culture Festival Returns to Mauritius in September 2026
Mark your calendars: the Chinatown Food and Culture Festival 2026 is coming back to Port Louis on 26 and 27 September, offering two days of …
Lasagne Cascavelle Opens Rose-Hill Restaurant After Island Buzz
What began three years ago as a modest lasagne-making workshop in Cascavelle has grown into one of Mauritius's most talked-about Italian foo…
Navratri 2025 in Mauritius: Nine Nights, Nine Forms of Goddess Durga
One of Hinduism's most spiritually significant festivals returns to Mauritius this October, with Navratri, also known locally as Durga Puja,…
Sudoku: Why the World's Favourite Number Puzzle Is So Hard to Put Down
There's something almost hypnotic about a Sudoku grid. A small square of 81 cells, a handful of numbers already filled in, and suddenly half…
Beyond Cats and Dogs: Mauritius Embraces Exotic Pets
Dogs and cats have long dominated Mauritian households as the go-to companion animals. But that picture is gradually changing. Rabbits, parr…
Pope's France Visit: One Million Expected, Massive Security Deployed
France is preparing for one of its largest security operations in recent memory as the Pope arrives for an official visit, with authorities …
Oundé: The Forgotten Mauritian Sweet That Tells a Story
Walk through a Mauritian market or neighbourhood street and you'll recognise the classics: dholl puri flatbreads, gâteau piment chilli fritt…
The Gentlemen Season 2 Is on Netflix, Here's What to Expect
Sharp suits, sprawling English country estates, dark humour, and plenty of criminal intrigue, Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen is back for a seco…
Marriages in Mauritius Drop 2.4% in First Half of 2026
Marriage is becoming less common in Mauritius. New demographic data published by Statistics Mauritius, the government agency responsible for…
Blind Teacher and Mother Marie Michèle Pitchen: 'I Learned to Be Independent'
Marie Michèle Pitchen is a visually impaired Mauritian woman who has done what many might consider extraordinary, she has built a career as …
Rs 50 to Rs 26.7 Million: Mauritius Lottery Winner Stays Humble
Vinay Beeharee is not the kind of man who lets a life-changing windfall go to his head. The Mauritian lottery winner, who scooped a jackpot …
Gold vs. Costume Jewellery: How Mauritius Is Changing Its Taste
For generations, a gold chain, a pair of gold earrings, or a gold ring meant far more than a fashion accessory in Mauritius. Jewellery was b…
Dumpling Squishies: The Squishy Toy Trend Taking Over Mauritius
They look like tiny, smiling ravioli. They come in pastel colours, fit in the palm of your hand, and are almost irresistible to squeeze. Dum…
From Dragon Ball to Solo Leveling: Anime's Big Comeback
For a generation of Mauritians who grew up in the 1990s and 2000s, Japanese anime was part of daily life. Series like Dragon Ball, Pokémon, …
Perfume in Mauritius: More Choice, More Prices, New Trends
Perfume is no longer the exclusive domain of designer boutiques and four-figure price tags. In Mauritius, as around the world, the fragrance…
Poutou: The Beloved Mauritian Street Snack Fading Away
For many Mauritians, the street cry of "Poutou chaud!", "Hot poutou!", is a sound etched into childhood memory. Vendors carrying these warm,…
Mecca: Imam Nurudeen Reassures Mauritian Families
As thousands of Muslims from around the world converge on Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Imam Nurudeen has stepped forward to offer r…
Ganesh Immersion Draws Crowds at Bain-des-Dames
The coastal site of Bain-des-Dames became a vibrant centre of devotion as hundreds of worshippers gathered to participate in the immersion o…
Why Marriage Still Matters in Mauritius
Marriage remains one of the most significant life decisions a person can make, and in Mauritius, a country shaped by diverse cultural, relig…
Ganesh Chaturthi: Mauritius's Sweet Coconut Tradition
Every year during Ganesh Chaturthi, Mauritius bears witness to a quietly meaningful ritual that has survived long after louder celebrations …
Manish Cushmagee: Gratitude Before Prayer
In a reflective conversation with Le Défi Media, Mauritian public figure Manish Cushmagee opens up about a spiritual philosophy that has qui…
Ganesh Chaturthi: Faith Meets Tradition
Each year, the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi brings thousands of Mauritian Hindus together in a vibrant display of devotion, colour, and comm…
Kyky: Mauritius Through Handmade Dolls
In a creative corner of Mauritius, Sabrina Thiery, better known as Kyky, is quietly building a world where cute meets creepy, and where loca…
Frequently Asked Questions
What languages are spoken in Mauritius?−
Mauritius is multilingual. English is the official language of parliament and business; French is widely used in media and education; Mauritian Creole (Kreol Morisyen) is the mother tongue of most Mauritians; and Bhojpuri, Mandarin, Tamil, and Telugu are spoken in various communities.
What is Sega music?−
Sega is the traditional music and dance of Mauritius, originating from African and Malagasy slaves. It features the ravane drum, maravanne shaker, and triangle, with rhythmic dancing and call-and-response singing. UNESCO recognised Mauritian Sega as intangible cultural heritage in 2014.
What are the main festivals celebrated in Mauritius?−
Mauritius celebrates a rich mix of cultural festivals: Diwali (Hindu festival of lights), Eid ul-Fitr (Muslim celebration), Chinese New Year, Christmas, and Maha Shivaratri, one of the largest Hindu pilgrimages outside India, drawing 400,000+ devotees to Grand Bassin each year.
What is the ethnic makeup of Mauritius?−
The Mauritian population is one of the world's most ethnically diverse. Indo-Mauritians (of Indian descent) make up about 68%, Creoles (of African/Malagasy descent) about 27%, Sino-Mauritians about 3%, and Franco-Mauritians about 2%. This diversity shapes the island's food, religion, and cultural life.