TreeLog

This weekend, I am paying tribute to my ancestors. Yesterday was All Saints day and I accompanied my dad to the cemetery with flowers for my grandparents and other  relatives. I had a little tour in the cemetery, listening to my dad talking about our relatives resting here – names and stories that form our family tree.

Today is public holiday and we celebrate the arrival of indentured labourers in Mauritius. A day in honour of our ancestors who crossed the ocean from India to work in the sugar cane fields on this small island.

In 1834, the British Government tried “ the great experiment” in Mauritius, which entailed replacing slaves by indentured labour. The word “indentured” is a form of labour bound by a contract for a number of years and can be without salary; both parties can also agree on a prepaid lump sum or form of compensation.

About half a million indentured labourers came from India and landed at Apravasi Ghat in Mauritius, which became known as one of the greatest migration in history ( source: UNESCO website).

My own ancestors came from the state of Maharashtra in India. They brought with them the culture, traditions and language which we are still using in Mauritius.

This morning I visited the oldest Marathi temple in Mauritius – the Cascavelle Pandurang Kshetra Mandir built in 1902. The temple hosts Lord Vitthal, also known as Panduranga and today we celebrated Ekadashi, which is also called the day of Lord Vishnu. 

The name Pandurang originates from Pandharpur, found in the state of Maharashtra and is known as a holy place for Lord Vishnu (called Vitthal or Pandurang). 

I find this beautiful that we are still celebrating the devotion which was brought by our ancestors nearly 190 years ago.

My close friends know how much I treasure cultural diversity and my post is to share my roots, which are part of who I am today.