Ganga Talao and Girmitya: Folklore and Oral Traditions

The chapter aims to trace the history of Girmitiya, their memories about home, diaspora consciousness and lives, and experiences in new cultural surroundings. How their traditions and culture have been preserved and hybridized over some time? Analysis of Bhojpuri Girmitya songs and folklore in particular to the holy ‘Ganga’ will be considered. A Girmit priest had a phenomenal dream where he saw water of the Ganga Talao springing from the Jahnavi River (which is another name for the Hindu goddess, Ganga) into a lake in Mauritius. The first group of pilgrims who went to Ganga Talao were from the village of Triolet and it was led by Pandit Giri Gossayne from Terre Rouge in 1898. It is considered the most sacred Hindu place in Mauritius. In the meantime, other folk tales were added to that place and it got the name of Pari Talao. It was believed that fairies used to come and dance during the night there. During the Maha Shivaratri festival, thousands of devotees leave their homes and start a journey to Grand Bassin on foot. Beautiful effigies known as ‘kanwars’ are carried as well. Mauritius is the only place where Maha Shivaratri is a week-long festival. Around the world, including India, the Grand Night of Shiva is celebrated only on a single day. But why and how Mauritius became exception in this matter is a unique story.