Maha Shivaratri: Mauritius Pilgrims Told to Limit ‘Kanwars’ to 3m x 2m

Ahead of the upcoming Maha Shivaratri pilgrimage in March, Mauritian authorities, in collaboration with various socio-cultural associations, have “recommended” that ‘kanwars” be limited to a height of 3 meters and a width of 2 meters.

Furthermore, the installation of generators in the ‘kanwars’ is being strictly discouraged.

Bhojraj Ghoorbin, president of the Mauritius Sanatan Dharma Temples Federation, said that these measures have been reinforced, particularly following the tragic incident in Mare-Longue last year, where two pilgrims lost their lives and 16 other pilgrims were injured.

He affirmed that these directives aim to ensure the safety of pilgrims heading to Ganga Talao.

After last year’s incident, criticisms have been pouring against socia-cultural organisations and particularly the Government Task Force on Maha Shivaratree for having been “too lenient” on the size of these oversized structures.

Social media were also flooded with criticisms against the use of powerful loudspeakers on such ‘kanwars’ – that often play loud remixed devotional songs late at night, even in residential areas, during the trip from or to Grand Bassin.

Source: Defi Media