The welcoming ceremony for the Indian PM's recent visit to Mauritius included Geet Gawai, showcasing the vibrant heritage of the Indian diaspora in Mauritius.
Geet Gawai – It is a unique singing style of Bhojpuri-speaking communities of Indian descent in Mauritius.
It is mostly performed by women.
Historical Relevance - Theorigins of Geet Gawai in Mauritius can be traced to the arrival of Indian indentured laborers in early 1700s.
Lakhs of Indians, largely from Bhojpuri-speaking regions, were brought to Mauritius. Their cultural practices, including Geet Gawai, have been preserved through generations.
Pre-wedding ceremony – Traditionally, it is a pre-wedding ceremony that combines rituals, prayer, songs, music and dance.
It takes place at the home of the bride or groom and involve female family members sorting items like turmeric, rice, grass and money in a piece of cloth.
Meanwhile, other members continue to sing songs honouring Hindu gods and goddesses.
After the site is sanctified, the mother of the bride or the groom honours musical instruments to be played at the ceremony.
Uplifting songs are then performed with everyone joining in to sing and dance.
UNESCO Recognition – It has been recognized as an UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2016.
Quick Facts
Mauritius– Also Referred as "Mini India" due to its substantial population of Indian origin.
The influence of Indian traditions is apparent in daily life, with many Mauritians wearing traditional Indian attire and participating in cultural festivities.
Bhojpuri - Holds a significant position as one of Mauritius's dominant languages, as the 2011 Census shows approximately 5.3% of the population speaks Bhojpuri.
Language utilized- In political campaigns and cultural expressions, and its promotion has been institutionalized through educational policies.
Government Promotion of Bhojpuri- The Bhojpuri-Speaking Union Act supports the language's use and cultural activities. The Bhojpuri Mahotsav was also launched to celebrate Bhojpuri culture.
Continued Importance - The act of performing & speaking Bhojpuri, and the acceptance of Indian cultural norms in Mauritius proves the strength of the ties between India and Mauritius.
Cultural Identity - Geet Gawai, therefore, stands as a testament to the successful transmission of culture. It is an act of cultural identity and cultural preservation.
