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77 As this festival is officially designated as a pub- lic holiday for the northern Indian Hindi-speaking community, every single Mauritian Hindu par- ticipates by making a pilgrimage to the Grand Bassin. Devotees observe a strict fast in honor of Shiva. While many go on a diet of fruit and milk, some do not consume a drop of water. They strongly believe that sincere worship of Lord Shiva on the auspicious day of Shivaratri absolves a person of sins and liberates him or her from the cycle of birth and death. Shivaratri is considered especially favorable for women; while married women pray for the well-being of their husbands, unmarried women pray for a husband like Lord Shiva, who is regarded as the ideal mate. The Grand Bassin is idyllic and calm, and sur- rounded by breathtaking natural scenery. Ac- cording to legend, the lake is connected with the holy river Ganges, which is why it is also called “Ganga Talao.” The legend has it that the god Shiva and his wife Parvati were traveling the world on a ship; Shiva wanted to show his wife the most beautiful places on Earth, so they stopped in Mauritius. During the journey, Shiva was carrying the river Ganges on his head to prevent the earth from flooding, but he spilled water from the holy river while landing. Drops of it flowed together in the crater, giving birth to the Grand Bassin. Along the Grand Bassin are several temples, small shrines and colorful statues all dedicated to Shiva and other gods. When the festival begins, believers offer flowers and fruits, filling the air with the pleasant smell of burning incense. In the main temples and in front of the stat- ues of the gods Ganesha and Ganga, masses of people gather and wait to offer their sacrifices. Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and God- dess Parvati, is widely venerated throughout the world. Ganesha, with the head of an elephant and often portrayed riding a mouse, is consid- ered the deity of good fortune, new ventures and wisdom. Three days before the festival begins, devo- tees start their pilgrimage to the Ganga Talao. Local businesses and temples set up rest areas along the roads for refreshments and relaxation. Many local businesses and community organiza- tions create banners to greet the pilgrims. Volunteers offer food, fruit and juice to the pil- grims on their way, and even set up stalls for them to rest during the journey. Roads are full of people dressed in white to symbolize purity. Upon reaching their destination, families wait to use one of the many small stone tables on the banks of the lake to offer goods called dravya to Hindu gods. On the day of Maha Shivaratri, believers dedi- cate special prayers to Lord Shiva. On the night of the holiday, they connect with the moon, and subsequently with the god Shiva himself. Believ- ers also take water from the Grand Bassin and pour it over statues to praise the gods. Another important ritual is the watering of the Shiva Lin- gam, a symbol for Lord Shiva. Believers carry the water home with them and pour it over Shiva Lingam in their own village’s temple. They will also attend a ceremony called Char Pahar ki Pooja, where devotees keep vigil all night long, worshiping Lord Shiva and the Shiva Lingam, without which their prayer would be incomplete. The prayers normally last from 6 p.m. in the eve- ning through 6 a.m. the next day, when the cel- ebrations end. Tourists are welcome to visit the temples and the Grand Bassin itself, but as a matter of re- spect, one should be mindful of appropriate be- havior and dress. If you can stay unobtrusive and blend into the crowds, you will be rewarded by bearing witness to a lot profound happiness. As whole families pray together, age, gender and family status seem to disappear. According to mythology, each of these dravya (offerings to the gods) blesses a unique quality: Milk: the blessing of purity and piousness Yogurt: prosperity and progeny Honey: sweet speech Ghee: victory Sugar: happiness Water: purity