Reunion: Events

Major festivals in Réunion involve exhibitions, competitions, sports events, music and dancing. Towns and villages across the island take turns celebrating over a week or weekend; the excuse is to honour their primary product, which can be anything from chou chou (a vegetable similar to a courgette) to sugar cane. The Fête du Miel Vert in Plaine-des-Cafres, celebrates honey for two weeks in mid-January, the Fête du Choca in Entre-Deux showcases products made from choca leaves for two weeks in July, and the Fête des Lentilles in Cilaos, celebrates lentils for 10 days in mid-October. There are many religious festivals; the Indian community of Tamil Hindus holds some spectacular rites, including cavadee (which involves self-mutilation) (held January or February) and fire-walking ceremonies (January). The Hindu temple in St-André is the most popular location for these events.