Confucius Institute at University of Mauritius hosted the Chinese New Year Celebration at the auditorium of the University of Mauritius. The Chinese New Year also known as the Spring Festival is celebrated in China over a number of days and in Mauritius, the Spring Festival is celebrated with enthusiasm by the sino-Mauritian community and enjoyed by all the communities. The Chinese New Year day is a public holiday in Mauritius.
People clean their homes to welcome the Spring Festival. They put up the red posters with poetic verses on it to their doors, Chinese New Year pictures on their walls, and decorate their homes with red lanterns. It is also a time to reunite with relatives and many people visit their families at this time of the year. In the evening of the Spring Festival Eve, they would set off fireworks and firecrackers, hoping to cast away any bad luck and bring forth good luck. Children often receive “luck” money or red packet, also knownas ‘hóngbāo’ in Mandarin. People wear new clothes and send Chinese New Year greetings to each other. Various activities such as beating drums and striking gongs, as well as dragon and lion dances, are all part of the festivities.
The global celebrations are an explosion of light and sound - involving bell ringing, lighting firecrackers, and watching traditional lion dances. We try to replicate this moment at the University of Mauritius on this special occasion.
This year, according to the Chinese Zodiac, it is the year of DOG. It is said that anyone born in a dog year will be communicative, serious, and responsible in the workplace.
Confucius at University of Mauritius (CI-UoM) wish everyone a joyful, prosperous and healthy Chinese New Year. GONG XI FA CHAI !!!
