Maha Shivratree or Maha Shivratri or Maha Shivaratree- 20.02.2012- Mauritius- Grand Bassin- Ile Maurice- La Grande nuit de Shiva-Public holiday-Conge public-Hindu festival-fete hindou - Incidents and

Maha Shivratri can be considered as the most important Hindu celebration in India but also in Mauritius. The tradition is to keep a 10 day fast prior to the night of Shiva, pour water and behl leaves on the Shivling and to stay awake all night during the Maha Shivratree for the Char Pahars (Prayer in 4 stages) from 6 pm to 6 in the morning. Traditionally, in Mauritius, the Hindus converge to Grand Bassin (or Ganga Talao or Pari Talao) a few days before for a pilgrimage to collect the sacred water to be poured thereafter on the Shivling. Some 500,000 people pay a visit to the Grand Bassin (including tourists) on that specific occasion.

The pilgrimage attracts all communities from the four corners of the island and even non Hindus participate in this long walk. At times, this is done more in a spirit of friendship.

On the Maha Shivratree day, from the very early morning, Shiva temples are flocked by devotees, mostly women, who come to perform the traditional Shivalinga worship and hence hope for favours from the god. Devotees bathe at sunrise. This is a purificatory rite, an important part of all Hindu festivals. Wearing a clean piece of clothing after the holy bath, worshippers carry pots of water to the temple to bathe the Shivalinga. They offer prayers to the sun, Vishnu and Shiva.Women pray for the well-being of their husbands and sons. An unmarried woman prays for a husband like Shiva, who is considered to be the ideal husband. The temple reverberates with the sound of bells and shouts of “Shankerji ki Jai” meaning 'Hail Shiva'. Devotees circumambulate the linga, three or seven times, and then pour water over it. Some also pour milk. (from Wikipedia.org applies especially to India)

According to the Shiva Purana, the Mahashivaratri worship must incorporate six items:

·         Bathing the Shiv Linga with water, milk and honey, and Wood apple or bel leaves added to it, representing purification of the soul;

·         The vermilion paste applied on the Shiv Linga after bathing it, representing virtue;

·         Offering of fruits, which is conducive to longevity and gratification of desires;

·         Burning incense, yielding wealth;

·         The lighting of the lamp which is conducive to the attainment of knowledge;

·         And betel leaves marking satisfaction with worldly pleasures.

‘Sivaratri’ means ‘night of Lord Siva’. The important features of this religious function are rigid fasting for twentyfour hours and sleepless vigil during the night. Every true devotee of Lord Siva spends the night of Sivaratri in deep meditation, keeps vigil and observes fast.

Also to note that Maha Shivratri is considered to the Birth of the Unborn night. Shiva is considered to be the generator, operator and destroyer of this world.

The worship of Lord Siva consists in offering flowers, Bilva leaves and other gifts on the Linga which is a symbol of Lord Siva, and bathing it with milk, honey, butter, ghee, rose-water, etc.

When creation had been completed, Siva and Parvati had been living on the top of Kailas. Parvati asked: “O venerable Lord, which of the many rituals observed in Thy honour doth please Thee most?” Lord Siva replied: “The thirteenth night of the new moon, Krishna Paksha, in the month of Phalguna (February-March) is known as Sivaratri, My most favourable Tithi. My devotee gives Me greater happiness by mere fasting than by ceremonial baths, and offerings of flowers, sweets, incense, etc.

“The devotee observes strict spiritual discipline in the day and worships Me in four different forms in the four successive Praharas, each made up of three hours of the night. The offering of a few Bilva leaves is more precious to Me than the precious jewels and flowers. He should bathe Me in milk at the first Prahara, in curd at the second, in clarified butter at the third, and in honey at the fourth and last. Next morning, he should feed the Brahmins first and break the fast after the performance of the prescribed ceremonies. There is no ritual, O Parvati, which can compare with this simple routine in sanctity. (source:Wikipedia.org)

Incidents and Accidents at Grand Bassin

It has been reported that there was a major accident involving a van and 9 pilgrims in the region of Petrin. According to the Defi Media.info 5 of them were seriously injured and one passed away.

On the other hand, an incident which could have created social tensions occured in the region of Quinze Cantons, Vacoas. Though an in depth inquiry has to be carried out, the first reports in the press indicate that a group of Muslims have vandalised a Seva spot and detroyed its  banners(place where pilgrims stop for rest). The suspects who have been arrested are accused of complicity and to have faked the the number plate in the diary book of the police according to press reports. Various sources have different versions of the incidents but be it as it may, whether as a reaction to provocation or not, violence is never a solution and can imperil the social harmony of our country.

Some concerns about the Maha Shivratri 2012 in Mauritius

Three main phenomena have, however, been noted for this year. One is an increased number of youngsters (seemingly aged 16 or less) smoking while going to or coming back from Grand Bassin. Secondly, pollution through the use of plastic cups while previously the pilgrims were being provided with tea in metal glasses to have their tea and had to give them back. Thirdly, the use of techno music and reggaeton in the spiritual songs to ‘appeal to the younger generation’. How far this is proper is yet unknown.  Tourists more and more come to attend this event marked by deep devotion.

Growth of tourism and its impacts

Even if there is no exact statistics as to the number of tourists coming for this major event, those having been to the sacred lake would have noticed the growing number of tourists this year. The event in itself and the mystic appeal of Grand Bassin blend marvelously together to attract cultural tourists. However, as time is going by, the unfettered access to the site and to temples could be creating some frustrations in the future to the Hindu devotees who might not be necessarily happy to be constantly filmed or photographed whilst doing their prayers or listening to tourists laughing and speaking aloud in temples. There is an urgent need for authorities to set out clear guidelines and codes for inbound operators in order to respect the rituals being held at this sacred sites be it on Maha Shivratri day or not.