Savita Tiwari takes us on her personal pilgrimage to the sacred lake known as Ganga Talao during the island’s exuberant celebration of Siva’s great night

By Savita Tiwari, Mauritius

Savita, 36, grew up in India and is now a resident of Mauritius. She is an avid journalist, blogger, writer and poet with a love of dharma and for exploring many other topics

When we think of the great river Ganga, we envision crystalline waters flowing rapidly from snow-capped Himalayan peaks. Few, probably, would imagine a serene hilltop lake. Only on the island of Mauritius, located off the coast of Madagascar, will you find our
most sacred river in such an unlikely form—a form known as Ganga Talao.

Mauritius is a small and beautiful island country, situated far south in the Indian Ocean. The island is technically a part of Africa, but the population is more than 60 percent Hindus of Indian heritage. The official language is English, but most Mauritians speak French Creole as their mother tongue, and 14 other languages are also spoken across the island. Truly, Mauritius is a cultural cornucopia, a world within itself with African, European and Asian footprints. You’ll see mainly Western outfits as people walk through the streets; but pass by a Hindu temple or community event and you’ll likely see an assortment of colorful sarees, chudidaars and kurtas. There is plenty of Indian food to be found, even though the island’s renowned French cuisine often takes center stage. The island is quite small, at just 48 miles from Gris Gris in the south to Grand Baie in the north, just a one-and-a-half-hour drive. The distance from east to west is 34 miles.

A satellite view of Mauritius, marked with a popular route from Grand Baie to Ganga Talao

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: https://www.hinduismtoday.com/temples-and-pilgrimage/mauritius-mahasivaratri/