Some 134 Kovils across Mauritius, each received cheques to the amount of Rs 16 000 through the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage, this afternoon, during a ceremony organised at Sir Harilal Vaghjee Memorial Hall in Port Louis, in the context of the Govinden festival, which begins today. The ceremony was graced by the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Dr Renganaden Padayachy, the Minister of Arts and Cultural Heritage, Mr Avinash Teeluck, several Ministers; Members of Parliament, and other personalities. In his address, Minister Padayachy recalled the financial assistance as a pivotal contribution from the Government, expressing assurance that it will significantly enhance the organisation and success of the festival. He, thus, emphasised that the assistance aims to address logistical needs and ensure a smooth celebration. For his part, Minister Teeluck announced that Government is allocating financial assistance this year to support the Govinden Festival, with the goal of facilit ating the organisation of such religious events. He noted that the grant will enable festival organisers to coordinate their own marquee set up according to their specific needs, thus avoiding potential delays from the Ministry of National Infrastructure and Community Development, which usually oversees this task. This initiative, he added, underscores Government's commitment to protecting, promoting and preserving culture in Mauritius. Minister Teeluck further stressed that preserving culture and religions is crucial for maintaining national harmony, as these elements represent the strength and progress of the country. Minister Teeluck also outlined the new budgetary measure for the provision of duty-free motor vehicle purchases to registered priests of various religions, and indicated that the application process for this benefit is set to start in October 2024. Source: Government of Mauritius
- June 11, 2026