Mauritius is a peaceful and paradise like island found in the Indian Ocean. Mauritius has a striking layout, with gorgeous white sandy beaches surrounding the island. When looked at from the top, most regions of Mauritius are green. This is due to the mountains, forests and also the sugar cane fields present on the island. The production of sugar in Mauritius is an important element to help maintain the economy of the island. Tourism as well plays a vital role to support the economy of Mauritius.

The history of Mauritius had been a precious one. Mauritius, in the past had been controlled by the Dutch, the French and then finally the English. During this long period of time these people brought development to Mauritius. Slaves were brought from Africa and India to work in sugar cane fields. Even at that time Mauritius was recognized for the production of sugar. As time passed by the abolition of slavery took place. The labourers and slaves were released and given their liberty. Having no place to go, these people became the citizens of Mauritius.

For this reason, the island of Mauritius became a multi-ethnic place. People of different religions and cultural backgrounds started to live together. Today, rare are cases of racial disputes in Mauritius. In fact, neighbours of different religions live in harmony in Mauritius. Inhabitants of Mauritius respect each other's religions and cultures. Besides, the national holidays in Mauritius commemorate significant events in the history of the island. For instance, Abolition of Slavery and National Day among others. Other public holidays reflect the various cultures in Mauritius.

For example, Maha Shivaratree is celebrated by Hindus who pay their respects to the god Shiva. On this occasion, most Hindus go to Grand Bassin from all corners of Mauritius. Moreover, the Spring Festival in Mauritius is celebrated by Chinese. They blow lots of firecrackers on this day to chase evil spirits. In addition to, Eid-Ul-Fitr is celebrated by the Muslim community in Mauritius. Muslims fast for around a month waiting for the appearance of the moon to end their fast. Another public holiday in Mauritius is Thaipoosam Cavadee. This festival is celebrated by Tamils. This festival brings spectacular sights as devotees make body piercings and climb on swords to pay their respects to the god Muruga.

All of the holidays celebrated in Mauritius provide a fine insight into the different cultural backgrounds of the island. People of different communities in Mauritius all have their own sets of beliefs. For instance Hindus will do things differently as compared to Christians. Nontheless, there is a lot of respect among people sharing different beliefs. That is why Mauritius is a great place to live. Furthermore, with this assortment of cultures comes a variety of foods. The Chinese menu will consist of noodles and the Muslim menu will consist of ?Briani?. On the other hand, Hindus will cook ?Dholl Puri?.

So, if you are in Mauritius for vacations, you could be on for a real nice treat by having the opportunity to taste a nice collection of food.