Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated across the country
This past Wednesday, the Hindu community of Marathi origin celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi, a significant festival commemorating the birth of Ganesh, the god associated with fortune, arts, sciences, intelligence, and wisdom, known for removing obstacles.
The Ganesh Chaturthi festivities typically include the making of clay statues of Ganesh, prayer ceremonies, devotional songs, folk dances, offerings of food and sweets, and public processions.
A notable aspect of the festival is the immersion ritual. Devotees carry the god's statues to streams, lakes, or the sea, symbolizing his return to his divine realm. This immersion is accompanied by devotional songs and dances.
In Mauritius, the celebration kicks off with ten days of fasting, traditional dances such as the jhakri, and prayers, notably the aarti, on the preceding evening. Statues of Lord Ganesha are then immersed at various locations, including Pierrefonds and Bain-des-Dames beach, where the national ceremony is organized by the Mauritius Marathi Mandali Federation. Additionally, the Mauritius Sanatan Dharma Temples Federation conducts prayer sessions at Choisy, Anse-la-Raie, and Flic-en-Flac beaches.
The immersion ceremonies for Lord Ganesha's statues will continue this weekend at various locations across the island.
Pravind Jugnauth at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Over 140 heads of state and government participated in the 78th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York, among them Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth.
During the summit, Prime Minister Jugnauth engaged in bilateral discussions. He had a meeting with Ms. Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, where they delved into topics related to the impact of climate change on island nations and explored opportunities for economic collaboration between Mauritius and the European Union. Additionally, he met with US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma to address various matters of mutual interest, including recent developments concerning the Chagos issue.
New measures to support growers
During an event held at the Beau-Champ Farmers' Service Center, several new initiatives aimed at supporting sugarcane growers were unveiled. Distinguished attendees included Vikram Hurdoyal, the Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security.
Among the significant announcements, one standout was the introduction of an 80% advance payment on the guaranteed sugar price, designed to assist farmers during the harvest season. Additionally, the "Advanced Fertilizers Scheme for Crop 2024" was introduced, offering advanced fertilizers to enhance crop quality and yield. Furthermore, farmers will have the option to either rent or purchase modern machinery to streamline the cane harvesting and processing processes.
To bolster plantation renewal efforts, a Cane Replanting Revolving Fund has been established with a funding pool of Rs. 500 million for the fiscal year 2023-24, providing soft loans at a minimal interest rate of 2% per annum. Other measures encompass an increase in the guaranteed minimum price per tonne of sugar from Rs 25,000 to Rs 27,500 and the provision of new mechanized equipment, including cane harvesters and tractors, to incentivize cane planting.
