Modi in Mauritius: Why did the PM get a Bhojpuri welcome?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted with a traditional Bhojpuri Geet-Gawai performance upon his arrival in Mauritius on Tuesday.

Modi is visiting the island nation as the chief guest for Mauritius ’ National Day celebrations on March 12.

Upon reaching his hotel, he received a warm reception from the Indian community, who chanted ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and waved the Indian tricolour in his honour.

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Notably, Mauritius holds a crucial place in India’s diplomatic and cultural ties, with historical connections dating back nearly two centuries.

The strong bond is rooted in deep people-to-people links and shared linguistic traditions.

The island nation has a special association with Bhojpuri, a language spoken in north-central India. The Indian government led by PM Modi has continued to strengthen its long partnership with Mauritius.

But what is the connection between Mauritius and the Bhojpuri language? Why is the island called ‘Mini-India’? And what is Geet-Gawai, the tradition performed by the Indian diaspora to welcome PM Modi?

Let’s take a look:

India and Mauritius’ deep history

Mauritius, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean, was once a French colony before coming under British rule. It gained independence from Britain on March 12, 1968.

One of the key reasons for the strong relationship between India and Mauritius is the presence of a large Indian diaspora. Nearly 70% of the island’s 1.2 million population traces its origins to India.

According to a profile on India-Mauritius relations published by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the first Indians arrived in Mauritius in 1729 during French rule.

They were brought to work as artisans and masons.

During British rule, around half a million Indian indentured labourers were transported to Mauritius between 1834 and the early 1900s. A large number of them chose to make the island their permanent home.

The first group of these workers, consisting of 36 individuals, arrived in Mauritius on November 2, 1834, aboard the ship ‘Atlas’. This date is now celebrated in Mauritius as Immigrant Day.

Port Louis accommodates the Immigrant Ghat, the landing site where Indian workers descended and shaped the country’s future.

Notably, UNESCO has recognised this site as a World Heritage Site.

During his return journey to India from South Africa, Mahatma Gandhi made a brief stop in Mauritius from October 29 to November 15, 1901. This visit also played an important role in influencing the lives of Indian labourers. He conveyed three messages - the value of education, political empowerment, and maintaining strong connections with India.

As a tribute to Gandhi, Mauritius observes its National Day on March 12, the date of his historic Dandi Salt March.

Mauritius shares such a deep-rooted connection with India that the country’s first Prime Minister, Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, traced his lineage to Bihar. His father, an immigrant worker, had travelled to Mauritius in search of a livelihood.

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Explained: The connection between Mauritius and Bhojpuri

A report published on the Mauritius Times website, referencing the 2011 Census, stated that 5.3% of the total population speaks Bhojpuri.

Meanwhile, the 2000 Census recorded that 12.1% of the population spoke the language. Notably, Urdu, Tamil, and Telugu are also spoken in the country.

English is the official language of Mauritius, while French and Creole are widely spoken.

Political parties have also included Bhojpuri into their election campaigns to connect with the Bhojpuri-speaking community.

According to a News18 report, Bhojpuri was introduced as an optional subject in Mauritius’ primary schools in 2005. In 2012, it became compulsory for Class 4 students.

In 2013, the Government of Mauritius enacted the Bhojpuri-Speaking Union Act, which was later amended in 2015.

The act led to the creation of the Bhojpuri-Speaking Union, operating under the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage. This body is responsible for promoting the Bhojpuri language in both spoken and written forms, as well as supporting educational, academic, cultural, and artistic initiatives related to Bhojpuri.

To further promote the language, the Bhojpuri Speaking Council was established in 2017, with the objective of preserving and promoting the culture and language. The 2007 Language Act also recognises the value of multilingualism and cultural diversity in Mauritius.

In 2018, Mauritius introduced the Bhojpuri Speaking Region project to further advance the language’s presence.

During the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas in Varanasi in January 2019, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, then Prime Minister of Mauritius, announced that the country would host a Bhojpuri Mahotsav in 2020.

However, due to the global Covid-19 pandemic and following lockdowns, the International Bhojpuri Festival could not take place.

The Bhojpuri Mahotsav was eventually held in 2024 at the Long Beach Mauritius Hotel in Belle Mare, Flacq, Mauritius.

What is Geet-Gawai?

“Memorable welcome in Mauritius. One of the highlights was the deep-rooted cultural connect, seen in the Geet-Gawai performance. It’s commendable how the great Bhojpuri language thrives in the culture of Mauritius,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

Geet Gawai is a traditional Bhojpuri musical ensemble that reflects the rich cultural heritage carried to Mauritius by women from the Bhojpuri-speaking regions of India.

In December 2016, UNESCO inscribed Geet Gawai on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

According to the singers, Geet Gawai holds deep meaning in life events, particularly weddings, where it begins with invocations to deities.

Traditionally, the ceremony takes place at the home of the bride or groom, with female family members preparing items such as turmeric, rice, grass, and money in a piece of cloth. Meanwhile, others continue singing songs in honour of Hindu gods and goddesses, Mint said in a report.

Once the site is sanctified, the mother of the bride or groom pays tribute to the musical instruments that will be played during the ceremony. The gathering then comes alive with uplifting songs, as everyone joins in singing and dancing.

This cultural practice has been preserved through generations, passed down by observation, participation, dedicated teaching spaces, and academic study.

Why is Mauritius called ‘Mini-India’?

Mauritius is often referred to as “Mini India" due to its large population of Indian origin.

Before gaining independence, a large number of people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were brought to the island as indentured labourers, known as Girmitiyas.

These migrants played a key role in popularising Bhojpuri and Hindi in Mauritius.

Beyond language, Indian cultural influences are also evident in daily life. Many people continue to wear traditional Indian attire, with women dressed in saris often seen singing folk songs like jhumar, sohar, kajri, or ratwai in villages across Mauritius.

With inputs from agencies