• Home
  • Information and Services
  • Arts and Culture
Culture
By nature of its pluralistic population, Mauritius has inherited a rich multicultural society wherein diverse ethnic groups thrive. To foster a balanced and harmonious Mauritian Society, the Government of Mauritius ensures that all cultural values such in the form of festivals, cuisine, folklore and music are preserved and celebrated at individual and collective level. The traditional Mauritian Sega Tipik, the Sega tambour of Rodrigues and Geet Gawai are on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Moreover, cultural interaction among different cultural components is promoted abroad for mutual understanding and enrichment through Cultural Agreements.
Festival
The main festivals and religious events celebrated in Mauritius are Cavadee, Chinese Spring Festival, Christmas, Divali, Easter, Eid-ul-Fitr, Ganesh Chathurti, Holi, Maha Shivaratree, Père Laval Pilgrimage and Ugadi.
Cultural Exchanges
Cultural Agreements have been signed between Mauritius and the following countries: India, Seychelles, China, Russia, Egypt, France, Mozambique and Madagascar.
Mauritian Cuisine
Mauritius is a paradise for the senses, not only for the eyes with its beautiful landscape, but also for the palate. Gastronomes will find a variety of flavours and aromas inherited from the different migrations through its history.
Folklore and Music
Mauritius is blessed with the sounds and rhythms of the western, eastern and African civilisation which have come across its history. This legacy has been preserved and passed on unscattered through generations. On the other hand, some have meld together to yield unique sounds and rhythms.
The Sega
The inscription of the traditional Mauritian Sega (Sega Tipik) in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity will be examined at the 9th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage to be held at the UNESCO Headquarters, Paris from 24 to 28 November 2014. You cannot possibly leave Mauritius without learning to dance a few Sega steps. Whether you have twinkle toes, or two left feet, this vibrant local dance with its distinctive African rhythm will have your hips undulating to the beat!

Each resort has its own Sega show, which is a perfect way to end an evening. The spirit of Africa resonates through the musical instruments – usually ravanne, maravanne or triangle are played, while the songs, sung in Creole, depict the Mauritian way of life.