Public Holidays and Festivals in Mauritius

Mauritius has 13 public holidays a year. The following 5 have fixed dates:

• New Year - January 1st and 2nd
• Independence/Republic Day - March 12th
• Labour Day - May 1st
• All Saints Day - November 1st
• Christmas - December 25th

The remaining 7 are religious festivals whose dates vary from year to year:

• Thaipoosam Cavadee - January/February
• Maha shivaratree - February
• Chinese Spring Festival - January/February
• Ougadi - March
• Eid el-Fitr - May/June
• Ganesh Chaturthi - September
• Divali - October/November

Public Holidays in Mauritius for the September 2009-December 2010 period

2009

Eid el-Fitr (End of Ramadan)	21 September
Diwali (Festival of Lights)	17 October
All Saints' Day	1 November
First Labourers' Day	2 November
Christmas Day	25 December

2010

New Year	1-2 January
Thaipoosam Cavadee	January or February
Abolition of Slavery Day	1 February
Chinese New Year	14 February
Maha Shivaratri	February
National Day	12 March
Ougadi	March or April
Labour Day	1 May
Ganesh Chathurthi	September
Eid el-Fitr (End of Ramadan)	11 September
All Saints' Day	1 November
First Labourers' Day	2 November
Diwali (Festival of Lights)	5 November
Christmas Day	25 December

Note:

• The times of Hindu festivals depend on the various phases of the moon as seen locally. The dates provided above are approximations.
• There are many cultures in Mauritius, each with its own holidays.
• Muslim festivals also depend on local sightings of the phases of the moon and the dates provided above are approximations. Eid el-Fitr is preceded by the lunar month of Ramadan. For this month Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and, as a result, normal business hours may be disrupted. Eid el-Fitr - which can last anything from two to ten days depending on the area - can also be a time of interruptions.
• Chinese festivals are timed according to local astronomical observations and often only an approximate time of their occurrence can be forecasted.