Jina Alikozay
8A1
The flag of Mauritius consists of four equal-sized horizontal stripes - the top stripe is red; the next one yellow; and the blue and bottom.
The red stripe represents the country's struggle for independence; the blue symbolizes the Indian Ocean, which surrounds the island nation; the yellow stands for a bright future for Mauritius following its independence; and the green represents the evergreen vegetation of the land and its agriculture. The Mauritius flag was adopted on January 9, 1968 just before the country gained independence from Britain on March 12, 1968. Before independence, the flags of Mauritius featured the British Union Jack on them.
Mauritius Coat of Arms!
Mauritius Flag!
Mauritius!
Mauritius is an island with surface area of 720 square miles, situated just above the Tropic of Capricorn, in the south of Indian Ocean, with 57° 35 East longitude and 19° 68 and 20° 15 South latitude. Being of a volcanic origin, Mauritius has a central plateau which is about 400 metres above sea level. Mountains scattered throughout the island, tropical forests and plants are other feathers that add to the natural beauty of the island. With more than 90 miles of white sandy beaches and the transparent lagoon are protected from the open sea by the world's third largest coral reef which almost surrounds the island.
Discovered by the Portuguese in 1505, Mauritius was subsequently held by the Dutch, French, and British before independence was attained in 1968. A stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather and declining sugar prices have slowed economic growth, leading to some protests over standards of living in the Creole community.
Area: 1,865 sq km
Population: 1,291,451 (2012 EST.)
Capital City: Port Louis (Pop: 148,416 (2012 EST.)
People: Hindu Indo-Mauritian (51%); Creoles (27%); Muslim Indo-Mauritian (17%); Others (5%)
Languages: English, French, and Creole
Main Religion(s): Hinduism (52%); Christianity (28%); Islam (17%)
Currency: Mauritian Rupee
Mauritius is a blend of diverse cultures and religions which immigrant population brought from their ancestral countries. Their festivities are celebrated in a spirit of peace and harmony throughout the year.
Cavadi
This festival is celebrated in January/February. Bodies are pierced with needles, tongues and cheeks with pins, devotees in a trance carry the ‘Cavadi’ on their shoulders as penitence. The ‘Cavadi’ is a wooden arch, covered with flowers and with a pot of milk at each end.
Culture!
Divali
The Festival of Lights is celebrated in a spirit of pure joy, in the month of October or November. Small clay lamps line the walls, balconies and yards. They are lit at sunset. Their golden light, which is believed to guide the Goddess of wealth and good fortune, can be seen everywhere. Divali represents the victory of truth (light) over ignorance (darkness). Divali, is a celebration of joy, happiness and for many Mauritians, a time for sharing.
Ganesh Chaturthi
It is celebrated on the 4th day of the lunar month of August/September by Hindus in honor of the birth of Ganesha, God of wisdom.
Holi
This Hindu festival is as colorful as the many legends from which it originates. It is above all a festival of joy during which men and women throw colored water and powder on each other and wish one another good luck.
Id-El-Fitr
The Id-El-Fitr festival signals the end of the Ramadan - the fasting period for Muslim people. Prayers are said in mosques all day long.
Ougadi
Ougadi is the Telugu New Year and is usually celebrated in March.
Spring Festival
The Chinese New Year is celebrated each year on a different date, owing to the differences
