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Ganga Talao or Grand Bassin is a lake situated in a secluded mountain area in the district of Savanne, deep in the heart of Mauritius. It is about 1800 feet above sea level. It is considered the most sacred Hindu place in Mauritius, according to Hindu mythology. In 1998 it was declared a "sacred lake". In 1972, some holy water from the Ganges River(Ganga) was mixed establishing a symbolic link with the sacred Indian River and the lake was renamed Ganga Talao. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and other Gods including Hanuman, Lakshmi and others along the Grand Bassin. There is also a "Mangal Mahadev" statue which is 108 feet. It was inaugurated in 2007. It is also the highest known statue in Mauritius. The Maha Shivaratri festival is among the most popular Hindu festivals in Mauritius and provides an occasion for great religious fervour and mass participation through the annual pilgrimage to the lake of Grand Bassin (‘Ganga Talao’). It is observed in the month of Phaguna (February— March) in honour of Shiva, one of the most celebrated Gods of the Hindu pantheon. Shivaratri 2010 is on February 12, Friday Maha Shivratri or Maha Sivaratri or Shivaratri or Sivaratri (Night of Shiva or "Great Night of Shiva") is a festival celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of the month of Maagha (as per Shalivahana or Gujarati Vikrama) or Phalguna (as per Vikrama) in the Hindu Calendar (that is, the night before and day of the new moon). The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Lord Shiva, all day fasting and an all night long vigil. |
