Paper short abstract:

In Mauritius, the habit of welcoming holy men coming from India in order to give sermons, explain the Hindu ritual, give a lecture, or a lead a religious ceremony, is quite usual. Craftsmen skilled in sculpture or wooden carpentry are requested for the decoration of the newly built temples. This paper will analyse the role played by the Varanasi leaders of the Kabirpanth in the transmission of the message of Kabir in Mauritius through musical medias, booklets or sermons.

Paper long abstract:

In Mauritius, the message of Kabir is transmitted through several means. Among the chutney songs repertoires, that is to say Bhojpuri folk songs influenced by the rhythm of African sega, bhanitas, including Kabir's philosophy are integrated. During the musical entertainments of the marriage evening reception (gamat), the singers who take part in competitions (lacrosse) have to know the Kabir poetry as well as parts of Tulsi Das' Ramayana in avadhi. Inside the Hindu temples, most of the devotional songs refer to Kabir. Yet, a great part of the Kabirpanth dynamism and transmission is maintained through regular links between Varanasi's Kabirpanthis and the Mauritian Hindu community. The Kabir Temple of Vacoas (Bonne Terre) welcomes a small congregation of renouncing devotees, under the guidance of a priest coming from Varanasi. The role played by the Varanasi Holy men and in the Mauritian Kabirpanth will be underlined. Their influence will be analysed through musical transmission, booklets, and sermons.