Mahashivratri

Mahashivratri (also spelled Mahashivtratree) is a major festival for the Hindu community of Mauritius. Literally "the Great Night of Shiva" it is the most important festival for the devotees of Lord Shiva. Pilgrims walk from all over the island to the sacred lake of Grand Bassin or Ganga Talao. The water in the lake is said to share a source with the waters of the holy Ganges in India and is thus a holy place. The actual public holiday was on a Friday but people coming from the farthest distances started as early as Monday.

I went with a group of friends from the Rotaract club. We started walking from a town close to where I live around 7:30 pm Thursday. Along the road we met up with thousands of people walking towards the lake and passed thousands more on their long journeys home. Some were carrying cavadees of Lord Shiva. Many were barefoot, many others were in flip flops and many of the women were wearing traditional dress such as saris.

In our trainers and backpacks we passed next to the endless line of cars also headed south. Along the road were shelters providing places to sit, food, candy, tea and juice. But we tried not to stop too much, opting instead to keep the momentum. Even power walking, it took us 4 hours to reach Grand Bassin.

The crowd, the lights, the incense, the rain... the scene was overwhelming and wonderful. Everyone sharing a common experience of devotion and worship but doing so in their own personal way.

Above: a giant statue of Lord Shiva.

We made our way down to the water where we left offerings of fruit and incense. As we lit a small fire we prayed. And when we were finished we stepped aside to let others do the same. Many pilgrims take water from the lake for ceremonies to be performed the next day.

Above: Ervin cracking open a coconut. We left one half there and took one half with us.

After praying we went to a large tented area to eat. The ginormous pots of briani were a welcome sight. But as we finished our meal the reality of only being half way done sunk it. We changed our socks and headed back into the rain, this time at a considerably slower pace. It was a long walk and we were all tired. We ended up getting home around 6:30 am. It was a long night but I went to sleep feeling like i had been a part of something bigger than myself. And my legs were aching with piousness.