The Goddess and Public History

Ganga Talao is a crater lake situated in a secluded mountain area in the district of Savanne, deep in the heart of Mauritius. It is located in the Indian Ocean, off the Eastern coast of Africa. It is about 1800 feet above sea level. It is said that the first group of pilgrims who went to Ganga Talao were from a local village in India and they were led by Pandit Giri Gossayne in 1898. The sacred Ganga Talao Temple was eventually built as a place of worship. It is a holy place that is open to the public and welcomes pilgrims of all faiths and backgrounds. It is known for its large deity statues, especially the giant Shiva and Durga statues that grace the temple. But it is also home to Hindu goddesses Lakshmi (good fortune) Saraswati (wisdom), and Ganga Mata. Also known as Ma Ganga, she is the personification of the sacred Ganges River and she is experienced as a loving and compassionate goddess. It is believed that her river can take away all pain and sins. Her icon sits on a shrine in the water. The water surrounding this temple is meant to represent the holy Ganges.

A Report From This Sacred Place

This video from Trendz Travel on Ganga Talao takes you right onto the scene of this holy temple, and the surrounding area, and includes interviews. You can see all the deities. You can view the statue of this goddess in the water, right behind the priest who is interviewed. He explains why this crater lake and temple is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites outside of India.

See Ganga Mata live on video here.

Sources

"Ganga Talao - Grand Bassin Sacred Lake." 2019. My Guide Mauritius. March 30, 2019. https://www.myguidemauritius.com/travel-articles/ganga-talao-grand-bassin.

Steffchic. "Discover Mauritius: The Pilgrimage to Grand Bassin." 2017. Eat Sleep Chic. March 5, 2017. http://eatsleepchic.ie/discover-mauritius-the-pilgrimage-grand-bassin-eat-sleep-chic/.

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‌Larry Wells Bowman. 2019. "Mauritius | Facts, Geography, & History." In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Mauritius.

Ganga Mata - The Ganga Talao Temple - Near Africa

Ganga Mata (Meaning "Mother") Blesses The Ganga Talao Temple in Grand Bassin, Savanne, Mauritius,

in India

Photo Credit: vladvitek/Depositphotos.com

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Ganga Mata - The Ganga Talao Temple - Near Africa

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