We gained our independence in 1968. It wasn’t without problems: there were the communal riots in January the same year, leading to a state of emergency. No-one was sure what to expect post-independence: would Mauritius be left to fend for itself?
Everyone can walk to Ganga Talao, the sacred crater Lake in Mauritius. Many streets are lined with people offering food and drinks, religious music permeates the air. I was in my car the other day, slowly moving behind gorgeous kanwars, and a lovely woman came and gave me a ti puri, a deep-fried kind of flatbread with curried Lima beans.
One of the many pleasures of Mauritius is the seemingly-endless supply of public holidays. I’m joking! Well, not really – having a day off from time to time is fun, of course, but what makes these days truly special is that everybody, regardless of ethnicity and religion, celebrates each other’s festivities – Maha Shivaratri, Christmas, Eid al-Fitr, Diwali, you name it.