Tamil Mauritian

Tamil Mauritians
Total population
(10-15% of Indo-Mauritians)
Regions with significant populations
Flacq district, plaines wiilhems district, savanne district and throughout mauritius in small numbers
Languages
Tamil, Creole, and English, French
Religion
Predominantly Hinduism to a smaller extent Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Tamil diaspora, Malayalees, Telugu people, Tamil Malaysian, Sinhalese people, Dravidians
Part of a series on
Tamils

Tamil Mauritians are the descendants of Tamil migrants to Mauritius. The original immigrants from Tamil were craftsmen and tradesmen, and arrived when Mauritians was ruled by France.[1] The island nation has a Tamil population of 115,000. Most were brought by the British from Tamil Nadu after 1727 to serve as labourers on the sugar cane plantations.[2][3] Around 15 percent of Indo-Mauritians are Tamils. The community includes a Hindu majority, and the rest are Christians (largely Roman Catholic). They account to 55,000 of the Mauritian population.[4] Of this number, around 7000 people reported that they spoke Tamil.[4][5] Most Tamils in Mauritius are Hindus. A large population of the Tamils in Mauritius live in Rose-Hill.

Thaipusam, the Tamil Hindu festival, is a national holiday in Mauritius and is notable in the temples.

Mauritius currency written in Tamil numerals and Tamil script[6]

Most Tamil Mauritians can read, and write Tamil to some extent, but very few can speak it well. Most speak Mauritian Creole, which include many Tamil words.[6] A Tamil magazine Pathirikai and a Tamil radio station Onex FM exist in Mauritius. Most cultural aspects and rituals can be seen in full-fledged manner. Around a 100 schools teach Tamil as a mother tongue subject. It can also be read at university level. A Tamil conference was held here. Murugan temples are common and some Tamil place names are found here.

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Murukan cult in Mauitius by Khesaven Sornum (2001)
  2. ↑ "History of the Tamil Diaspora by V. Sivasupramaniam", murugan.org
  3. ↑ Mauritius Government
  4. 1 2 Republic of Mauritius
  5. ↑ Republic - Resident population by geographical location and religious group
  6. 1 2 Mo Koz Kreol


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