NEW DELHI: In an important decision,
Mauritian government
has decided to provide a one-time
special leave
of two hours for public servants of the Hindu faith. This special leave will allow them to attend prayers marking the historic inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. The ceremony, known as Pran Pratishtha, will be attended by the presence of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
and other senior leaders, and will be broadcasted live.
In a statement released on Friday, the Mauritian Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, announced the approval of this special leave. The decision was made in recognition of the significance of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir inauguration, which symbolises the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya. The leave will be granted on Monday, January 22, 2024, from 1400 hours, subject to the exigencies of service.
Hinduism is the most prominent religion of this island nation, with Hindus accounting for approximately 48.5 percent of the population in 2011. Mauritius stands as the only country in Africa where Hinduism is the most widely practiced religion. In terms of global prevalence, Mauritius ranks third, following Nepal and India.
The roots of Hinduism in Mauritius can be traced back to the arrival of Indian indentured laborers during the colonial era. These migrants primarily hailed from states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. They were brought to work on French and later British plantations in Mauritius and neighboring islands of the Indian Ocean.
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