Mauritian Indentured Workers Celebration

Aapravasi Ghat's dispensary

Hindu Dancers Perform

Mauritius has a very compelling history of workers . . . first of the slaves brought to work the sugar cane, followed by Britain's elimination of slavery, and emancipation of slaves, followed by the "Great Experiment" of bringing indentured workers to the island.  The arrival of the indentured workers is celebrated with a national holiday each November 2nd as the time when the people who developed the island's infrastructure and commerce first arrived here. The main celebration takes place at the Aapravasi Ghat, the stone immigration depot in the port area of Port Louis, where the immigrants arrived and were processed . . . the Mauritius equivalent of Ellis Island.  Over a million immigrants from British colonies were processed through this facility in the 1800's and early 1900's . . . workers destined to move to and from many colonies.  The bulk of the Mauritian immigrants during this time were from India, and that immigration gives Mauritius demographics its distinctly Indian/Hindu flavor.  The country's President and Prime Minister (below) are both of Indian heritage, as is more than 60% of the population. Aapravasi Ghat is such an important site that it was named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations.  Shelly and I were asked to attend this year's ceremony as the official representatives of the United States.  We took along our visiting friend, Janet, to enjoy the festivities and appreciate the history of this important site.

Mauritius President (l) and Prime Minister

Dressed to the nines

Playing Gandhi, Who Visited Mauritius

Shelly & Janet in the Old Aapravasi Ghat;
the Mauritius equivalent of Ellis Island

Styling in the Old Immigration Facility