Know Mauritius

Mauritius, the pearl of the Indian Ocean, is a tiny volcanic island with a total area of 2,040km2, and a population size of around 1.2 million. It became independent on March 12, 1968, and a Republic on March 12, 1992. The capital is Port-Louis, the official languages are English and French, and the mother tongue is Mauritian Creole. Few outer islands are under the responsibility and sovereignty of Mauritius, such as Rodrigues, Saint Brandon, Tromelin (though registered as France), Agaléga, and Chagos Islands.

In 1715, the French took over the island. They renamed the island Isle de France. One of the notorious French governors was Mahé de Labourdoonais, who invested a lot in the island’s infrastructure. Port-Louis was one of his main places economically.

In 1810, there was an immense battle between the British and the French. It is famously known as the Battle of Grand-Port. The French won, but later in November of the same year, the British returned from the North to defeat the French army. After taking the island, they renamed it Mauritius. British ruled until 1968.

Slavery has existed on the island since the Dutch era. Slaves from African countries were brought by the French, and they introduced a Code Noir, a specific rule. Slavery continued until abolished in 1835. Indians and Chinese indentured laborers worked for the island’s economy until the beginning of the 1920s.

On March 12, 1968, Mauritius became independent of the British. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, also known as the father of the nation, led the independence fight. Mauritius became a republic on March 12, 1992.

Arts & Culture

The country has famous artists, such as painters, writers, singers, dancers, etc. Mauritians love the arts, and among the popular forms of art are painting, dancing, and literature. Additionally, they make a significant contribution to the local culture. Due to a mixture of populations, Mauritius has a diversified music industry and cuisine.

Sega is a local dance brought by slaves from Africa. Similarly, Bhojpuri music has gained popularity for decades. We have different types of cuisine such as the famous Dholl Puri or Mine Bouille. Learn more about Mauritius’ street foods. We even speak different languages, as stated above. Mauritian Creole is the native language, while English and French are the official languages. Oriental languages like Bhojpuri or Mandarin are still spoken by some locals.

There are different religions and spiritual beliefs as well. Having a mix of different religious backgrounds has made us unique in the world, as we coexist peacefully and harmoniously together.

Public Holidays

Mauritius is among the rarest countries in the world with many public holidays. In general, they are as follows: New Year Holidays, Chinese New Year, Abolition of Slavery, Thaipoosam Cavadee, Maha Shivaratee, National Day, Ugadi, Eid-Ul-Fitr, Labor Day, Assumption Day, All Saints’ Day, Arrival of Indentured Laborers, Ganesh Chaturthi, Divali, and Christmas.

Our multiracial and multicultural society is responsible for several religious public holidays.

Other Facts On Mauritius

Here are other useful facts about Mauritius:

• We drive on the left-hand side.
• Our currency is the Mauritian Rupee (Rs).
• We have high speed internet connectivity.
• We have the best mobile internet coverage in Africa.
• Our time zone is GMT +4.
• Our date format is dd/mm/yyyy.
• The calling code or zip code is +230.
• The internet TLD is .mu.
• The country’s motto is Stella Clavisque Maris Indici(Star and Key of the Indian Ocean).
• We form part of the Mascarene Islands (With Réunion and Rodrigues).
• There are 9 districts in Mauritius, namely: Port-Louis, Pamplemousses, Rivière du Rempart, Flacq, Grand-Port, Savanne, Moka, Plaines Wilhems, and Black River.
• We have no military. However, we do have paramilitary.
• Mauritius is a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the African Union, the Commonwealth of Nations, La Francophonie, the Southern Africa Development Community, the Indian Ocean Commission, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
• Triolet is the largest village in terms of demographic, while Port-Louis has the heist demographics as a City.
• We have free education and free healthcare.
• The literacy rate is around 93%.
• Students and pensioners benefit of free transport.

Conclusion

To conclude, this section discusses Mauritius. These are essential information you need to understand the island.