Mauritius - Religion

Enquire about Mauritius Holidays

When are you thinking of travelling?

100% Privacy Guaranteed

Like many reputable holiday companies we are ABTA registered, our ABTA membership number is 65310.

We also use ATOL protected tour operators. However if you wish to use a tour operator who is not ATOL protected then we will take our supplier failure insurance on your behalf.

For full details click here

The majority of the population (about 86%) is Roman Catholic. Many of the island’s towns are named after saints, and roadside shrines line every route. However, many Réunionnais follow more than one religion. For this reason, Tamil festivals, such as Cavadee, and Hindu festivals, like Dipavali, are celebrated with great enthusiasm. Chinese New Year is also welcomed with a great deal of noise and festivities.

Some descendants of the Malagasy still practise ancient rites, like summoning the spirits via a living family member, particularly on All Saints’ Day, the Christian festival. You may come across people who have been baptised into the Roman Catholic Church and who go to Mass, but seek help from a Malagasy spirit or Hindu god in times of trouble.

Sorcery (gris gris) is also practised on the island. In St-Pierre, the grave of the famous sorcerer and murderer, Sitarane, continues to be visited by those seeking his assistance (see box Le Sitarane, page 309).

Roadside shrines where the colour red dominates are a familiar sight in Réunion. They are dedicated to Réunion’s national saint, Saint Expédit, who is usually depicted as a Roman legionnaire. The saint is revered by Réunionnais of all faiths, who generally turn to Saint Expédit when they want revenge or to put a curse on someone. It is fascinating how an originally Christian concept has been distorted to incorporate beliefs in sorcery and superstition (see box Saint Expédit, page 343).

Get prices for Mauritius Holidays

When are you thinking of travelling?

Mauritius - Religion

Economy

Mauritius - Religion