SACRED BIG POND LAKE

This mystical place is to Mauritian Hindus what Lourdes is to French Catholics. According to legend, Shiva, who carries the Ganges on his head, lost a few drops in the crater of an ancient volcano on Mauritius. Then, in the middle of the forest, appeared a lake covered in a light mist, with waters as sacred as those of the mythical river: the Grand Bassin, also known as Ganga Talao or Ganges Lake.

Two immense statues guard the entrance to this cultic sanctuary, the largest of which (33 metres high), that of Shiva, is said to be a replica of the statue at Sursagar Lake in Vadodara, in the Indian state of Gujarat. Apart from these, there's nothing particularly captivating or spiritual about the site itself on any given day. On the edge of the natural crater lake, a few small buildings and temples are scattered around, all in coloured concrete. One of these stands at the top of a small mountain, reached by a flight of steps and offering a fine panorama of the lake and surrounding hills. The high priest of the Shiva temple, the most important place of worship of all, gladly invites decently dressed travelers to enter the sacred precincts. At the entrance, the ox, Shiva's mount, represents wisdom and goodwill. Inside, several altars are dedicated to Hindu deities such as Vishnu and Kali, and it's not uncommon to see Mauritians at prayer.

Towards the end of February, during the great Hindu festival of Mahâ Shivarâtri, which takes place every year on a date that varies according to the lunar calendar, the site undergoes a metamorphosis and becomes much more interesting. After 10 days of fasting, hundreds of thousands of Hindus, dressed in white, undertake a pilgrimage and converge on Grand Bassin on foot, carrying kanwars - bamboo arches covered with paper, multicolored garlands, bells and divine representations. Up to four days before the great night of Shiva, depending on the total distance to be covered, they form colorful processions on the roads, several kilometers long, lined with Mauritians of all faiths offering food and drink. It's a highlight of local life, and certainly an event not to be missed if you're on the island at this time of year. On arrival at Grand Bassin, pilgrims collect water from the lake, which they pour onto the Shivalingam , or sacred stone, of their village temple on their return.