Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday performed puja and offered the holy Ganga water, brought from Prayagraj’s Maha Kumbh, at ‘Ganga Talao’ pilgrimage site in Mauritius’ Savanne during his two-day visit to the island nation. He also offered prayers at the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. ‘Ganga Talao’, considered to be the most sacred Hindu place in Mauritius, is situated in a secluded mountain area in the heart of the country. VIDEO | Mauritius: Visuals of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ganga Talao in the district of Savanne. (Source: Third Party)#PMModi #GangaTalao #MauritiusVisit pic.twitter.com/zOHUN8sXmH — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 12, 2025 Ganga Talao, also referred to as Grand Bassin, symbolises India’s sacred River Ganga. In 1972, its holy waters were infused with water brought directly from the Ganges, cementing its spiritual significance. It is surrounded by temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha and Lord Hanuman and represents the spiritual legacy of the Hindu faith. मॉरीशस में पवित्र गंगा तालाब के दर्शन कर भावविभोर हो गया। इसकी पावन जलधारा के किनारे दोनों देशों के बीच के आध्यात्मिक संबंधों को आसानी से महसूस किया जा सकता है। यह सीमाओं से परे है और हमारी कई पीढ़ियों को उनकी जड़ों से जोड़ता है। pic.twitter.com/pKyOwQ77nq — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 12, 2025 The site is being redeveloped with the assistance of the Indian government to transform it into a religious, cultural and tourist hub for millions of Hindu devotees worldwide. This initiative was announced during President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Mauritius in 2024. A notable feature of the Ganga Talao is the 33-metre high Mangal Mahadev statue of Lord Shiva, which is the tallest statue in Mauritius. Built in 2007, this statue was inspired by the Shiva statue near Sursagar Lake in Vadodara, Gujarat. PM Modi’s Visit To Mauritius PM Modi arrived in Mauritius on Tuesday to attend the national day celebrations of Mauritius as the chief guest. A contingent of Indian armed forces also participated in the celebrations along with a warship of the Indian Navy and the Akash Ganga skydiving team of the Indian Air Force. He was also conferred with Mauritius’ highest civilian award, the ‘Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean’ (GCSK). He is the first Indian to receive this prestigious award, which recognises his contributions to strengthening ties between India and Mauritius. He is the fifth foreign national to receive this distinguished recognition. This marks the 21st international award conferred upon PM Modi by a foreign nation. Since 2005, India has been among the largest trading partners of Mauritius.