This article is a part of our "Ramadan Around the World" series. Based on the information sent by Taahirah Goolbar from Mauritius through this link, this interview has been edited for length and clarity by Have Halal, Will Travel's editorial team.
From Chemin Grenier in Mauritius, the first thing that comes to Taahirah Goolbar's mind when she thinks of Ramadan is the wide variety of food by local vendors.
Chemin Grenier is a district in Mauritius, which is a small, multi-cultural island lying east of Madagascar.
Some changes that go through her day during Ramadan are the timings to wake up and go to bed. "We wake up earlier for sehri (sahur) and sleep at a later hour due to Tarawi (Tarawih)."
Taahirah's favourite food for sahur is a Farata compote banane - a fusion dish basically made of banana puree cooked in ghee, sugar and spices rolled in Indian flat bread.
For iftar, hot Bajjas with satini cotomili, also a fusion dish, seals the deal as her favourite break fast dish. It consists of gram flour served with coriander chutney. "All our foods are traditional."
Despite the range of food she gets to enjoy during the month of Ramadan, Taahirah faces the challenge of losing the most valuable asset of time.
Credit: Taahirah Goolbar
"Even if we all know that Ramadan is about Ibaadat (ibadah), in my community, this month goes by just too fast for us to actually live a change in our lifestyle."
Her days get busy with house cleaning, Eid Ghusl (bath), new clothes, prayers, greeting neighbours, preparing and sharing food and of course, visiting her relatives!
For those intending to visit Mauritius someday, Taahirah finds that all the Mauritian beaches are the must-see spots for any traveller visiting the city.
Credit: Taahirah Goolbar
For food lovers, you can find the 'dhal puri', a vegetarian dish, anywhere in the city, although Taahirah recommends the one from Al Barakaat at Curepipe City Center. "It is one of the best Mauritian dishes which can be eaten at any time during the day and is really cheap and tasty!"
Although Mauritius is a very small island, it can be deemed as one city with so many hidden gems to Taahirah, with the South Coast being the one spot she recommends travellers to visit to immerse themselves in the local culture. The best time to visit Mauritius is in August when the weather is cooler for visitors to enjoy themselves.
Credit: Taahirah Goolbar
"Mauritius is just the place (to have interactions with people of different backgrounds)! It is one of those rare countries where we have people of all faiths, religions and ethnicities. And we all live peacefully as one people and one nation!"
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