By
Sadhana Negi (Indian Classical Kathak dancer)
Author Bio:
Sadhana Negi, a trained classical dancer who hails from the pristine land of Dehradun, in the state of Uttarakhand, India, writes on the three years spent in Mauritius, where she was on deputation, serving at the IGCIC from 2022-25 as a Kathak teacher, choreographer and performer. Sadhana took time off her busy schedule, where she is currently on an International Tour (Switzerland), invited by the CulturAll Swiss to perform over 12 concerts across the country, to pen this heartfelt memory about her days in Mauritius, during her tenure as Kathak teacher.
A gifted Indian classical and folk dancer, she won many hearts in Mauritius, among her students, public personalities, and the public, as a whole, where she performed on India’s Independence Day and Diwali celebration. The Kathak danseuse injects her native Garhwali folk traditions in her performances. She holds a Master’s degree in Kathak from Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh, Chhattisgarh. Sadhana is the founder of SADHANA – An Institute for Music & Performing Arts (SIMPA), based in Dehradun, where she teaches Kathak and Folk dance to aspiring students. Read as we usher into the festive season.
Memoir of My Years in Mauritius
By Sadhana Negi:
When I look back on the three years I spent in Mauritius, a small island in the Indian Ocean, the memories rise like gentle waves—warm, rhythmic, and filled with colour. I had arrived as a Kathak dancer and teacher appointed by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to serve at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture (IGCIC), under the High Commission of India in Phoenix. What I didn’t know then was that Mauritius would become much more than a workplace. It would become a chapter of deep learning, exploration, and connection.
A Home Built Through Rhythm
Every day at IGCIC began with the sound of ghungroos and ended with the soft echoes of tatkaar still ringing in the corridors. Teaching Kathak to students from different backgrounds was one of the most fulfilling parts of my journey. Their eagerness and discipline reminded me that art truly has no boundaries. I watched beginners transform into confident performers, and advanced students discover new layers of expression in their dance. Workshops, lecture-demonstrations, and countless rehearsals kept my days beautifully full. Each performance felt like a celebration—not just of Kathak, but of all the histories and emotions that dance carries.
Stages That Became Landmarks
Mauritius offered me stages that I had never dreamed of standing on. Performing for the President and the Prime Minister of the country was an honour I hold close to my heart. On those evenings, beneath the lights, I felt the presence of every guru, every classroom, and every practice session that brought me to that moment. Concerts held across the island offered windows unfurling into its cultural soul. Whether it was a small community event or a national celebration, the audience opened up to Kathak with such warmth that I often forgot I was far from India. I was fortunate to perform at the Apravasi Ghat for the Indentured Labour Day on 2nd November.
A Land of Mountains, Oceans, and Silent Beauty
Outside the dance halls, I found myself falling in love with Mauritius as a traveler. The island wasn’t just beautiful—it was alive. Being from the mountains of India, Garhwal, Uttarakhand, I am a born trekker and Mauritius offered me so much around me to trek that the island became home to me.
I trekked across mountains, each trail revealing sweeping green landscapes that felt almost untouched. Boat rides on its crystal-blue lagoons became my quiet escape, where the world seemed to pause long enough for me to breathe deeply and simply exist. These journeys helped me understand Mauritius beyond tourism. I saw how the island breathed, how it held stories in every stone, every shoreline. Nature became my best companion—teaching me balance, patience, and awe.
Festivals That Felt Like Family
What surprised me most was how at home I felt during Hindu festivals in Mauritius. From Maha Shivaratri to Diwali, the celebrations were vibrant and heartfelt. Visiting temples and pilgrimage sites—some perched on hills, others serenaded by the sea that felt like hugs—brought me a sense of rootedness I didn’t expect on a foreign island. I visited Ganga Talao very often and also had several opportunities to perform at that heavenly pilgrimage site.
Through these rituals and gatherings, I realized that the threads of culture and devotion stretch far beyond geography. They carry a sense of belonging that can embrace anyone who recognizes it.
Gratitude for an Island That Gave Me So Much
My time in Mauritius was not just a professional assignment—it was a journey of growth. I taught Kathak, but Mauritius taught me openness. I performed on prestigious stages, but the island performed its own magic on me through its landscapes, people, and traditions. As I continue my path as a Kathak dancer, I carry Mauritius with me: the rhythm of its waves, the glow of its festivals, the pride in its cultural unity, and the joy of the students who shaped my days. Mauritius was three years into my life—but it feels like a lifetime of memories. A second home for me now…
Photo credit: Photos by Sabastain Felix and Baiju Pyngodan.
