PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

There are 15 annual public holidays in Mauritius. Seven of these are fixed holidays: 1st and 2nd January; 1st February; 12th March; 1st May; 2nd November; and 25th December. The remaining public holidays are religious festivals with dates that vary from year to year.

2013 Public Holidays

1st-2nd January – New Year

27th January – Thaipoosam Cavadee

1st February – Abolition of Slavery

10th February – Chinese Spring Festival

10th March – Maha Shivaratree

12th March – National Day

11th April– Ougadi

1st May – Labour Day

9th August – Eid-Ul-Fitr *

10th September – Ganesh Chaturthi

1st November – All Saints Day

2nd November – Arrival of Indentured Labourers

3rd November – Diwali

25th December – Christmas

* NOTE: Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon. The dates given above are therefore approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night. Normal business patterns may be interrupted as a result. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking in other locations. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to ten days, depending on the region.