Dancers at the La Faya festival, Immigration Museum.
Image: Rodney Start
Source: Museum Victoria
The Immigration Museum was a blaze of colour on 18 March for La Faya, the Mauritian and Rodriguan Festival.
Almost 2000 visitors were treated to a day of music, sega dancing, traditional games and festive food, in a packed-out museum and courtyard.
Visitors enjoyed playing petanque, watched a diverse range of music and dance, met community members and learnt about Mauritian and Rodriguan heritage through a display of photographs. The courtyard saw many old friends becoming reacquainted, as well as new friends being made.
Children who attended listened to stories and made pictures of the dodo, which lived on the islands of Mauritius before becoming extinct.
Community caterers offered the chance to sample authentic Mauritian food, such as gateaux piment (chilli cakes) and gato banana (banana tart).
The festival was also a last opportunity for visitors to see Beyond the Postcard Image: Mauritians and Rodriguans in Victoria in the Community Gallery.