Mauritius Religion

The various religions found on Mauritius tend to play a major part in the island's cultural events and churches, temples and mosques are to be found everywhere.

Hindus make up approximately half of religiously affiliated Mauritians. Many Hindu and Tamil celebrations have become part of Mauritian cultural life.

Festivals such as Divali (the festival of lights), Holi (in which participants are covered in colourful powders) and Thai Poosam, in which Tamil devotees pierce their bodies with masses of needles as an act of penance, are popularly attended by Mauritians.

Of the remaining Mauritians, approximately a third are Christian and about 15% Muslim, followed by small Buddhist and Sikh communities.

There are also a number of diverse practices and superstitions originating in beliefs brought from Africa and Asia. Local sorcerers, known as longanistes or traiteurs, are sometimes called in to settle arguments, exact revenge or administer love potions.

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