In a significant gesture, the Mauritian government has announced a one-off special leave of two hours for public servants of the Hindu faith to attend prayers commemorating the historic inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. The ceremony, known as Pran Pratishtha, will witness the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders, and it will be broadcast live.
The Mauritian Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, released a statement on Friday, stating, "Cabinet has agreed to the grant of a one-off special leave of two hours on Monday 22 January 2024 from 1400 hours to public officers of Hindu faith, subject to exigencies of service, in the context of the inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir in India, which is a landmark event as it symbolizes the return of Lord Ram in Ayodhya."
Hinduism holds a significant presence in Mauritius, with Hindus constituting approximately 48.5 percent of the population as of 2011. Mauritius stands as the only country in Africa where Hinduism is the most practiced religion. Globally, in terms of percentage, Mauritius ranks third in the prevalence of Hinduism, following Nepal and India.
The roots of Hinduism in Mauritius trace back to the period when Indian laborers were brought to the region as indentured labor during the colonial era. These migrants, hailing from regions such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, played a crucial role in shaping the religious and cultural landscape of Mauritius and neighboring islands in the Indian Ocean.
(With Agency Inputs)
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