Religions in Mauritius
Due to the large number of tourists who visit Mauritius, some people feel that the island’s native population is severely depleted. However, with a population of over 1.2 million Mauritians living on this small island, Mauritius boasts one of the world’s greatest population densities. The 1.2 million individuals that make up the population are extremely diverse in terms of their origins, languages, and religious practices. Mauritians may trace their ancestry all the way back to France, in the north, and the Indian subcontinent, in the east.
Combining the original African population with European and Asian migrants has resulted in a unique ethnoreligious mix that gives Mauritius its uniqueness.
Religion and ethnicity are intertwined in Mauritius. Mauritian Hindus are the majority, with a tiny Muslim minority. The Hinduism practiced by the Tamils in our area is distinct from the rest of Hinduism. The majority of Creoles and French Mauritanians are Roman Catholics. Some Mauritian Chinese are Buddhists or practice other Chinese faiths. Other persons have made the switch to Roman Catholicism.
Hinduism in Mauritius
Hinduism, practiced by little under half of the island’s inhabitants, was brought to the island by Indians brought over as indentured laborers after slavery was abolished. Former Indian Prime Minister Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee started: “The water between India and Mauritius does not separate Mauritian Hindus. It brings them together.”
Extensive temples, a sacred lake in Grand Bassin, and a spiritual park on the East Coast… If you don’t pay a visit, your trip will be incomplete. As you can see, Hinduism is a significant part of the island nation’s religious landscape.
Islamic Religion in Mauritius
The entrance of the Indians in the 18th century brought Islam to Mauritius. A large majority of the seafarers were Sunnis, hailing from Bengal and Pondicherry. The authorities dubbed them “les matelots Lascards.”
Mauritius was a French colony at the time, thus French religious laws applied. Only Catholics were allowed to openly practice their faith.
The French governor granted the Lascards a land concession in Port Louis for the construction of a chapel of worship in Plaine Verte in the early nineteenth century. Now Muslims could freely exercise their faith.
Christianity in Mauritius
The French introduced Christianity to the island in the early 18th century. It was mandated that all slaves coming on the island be baptized in accordance with a legislation enacted in 1723. In the 1840s, the British sought in vain to convert the locals to Protestantism.
The island is full of charming little churches.
Buddhism
The Buddhist religion is practiced by a tiny minority of people—just 1% of the total population. Beginning in the early nineteenth century, Asian immigrants brought Buddhism to the island. The Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival are major holidays in the Chinese community.
Think about all the religious festivals and places of worship that are waiting for you to discover them! All of this is provided courtesy to the island nation’s many religious traditions…