Mother’s Day will be celebrated in Mauritius this Sunday, May 28. As is customary, many will be spending the day with the woman who gave them life. Yovina Ungapen has been preparing for this for several weeks.
Hénry Rotile
At the Ungapen family, preparations have been well underway for some time. For Yovina – aged 36 – everything is already set for the big day: “In the morning, we won’t leave our house in Triolet. As I’m the proud mother of an adorable little girl, I’ll be entitled to the traditional card she made at her school. As for the present, it’s still a surprise,” explains Yovina.
After spending the day with her in-laws, the little family will then head for St Pierre, where Yovina will meet up with her mom: “My sisters and my brother, we’re all going to meet up at my mom’s house. There will be a good twenty of us to spend a good time together.”
To spare their mom any drudgery, sisters and brother have opted for a catering service this year: “Usually, my mom always cooks on this day. But this year, we wanted her to relax in our company. That’s why we ordered everything from appetizers to dinner. And there will be something for everyone, from fish to meat to vegetarian dishes, since my husband and daughter follow this diet.”
Yovina, on the other hand, believes that Mother’s Day is more than just a celebration, it’s above all a deep sense of gratitude: “My mom always made sure we lacked for nothing. Gathering around her on Mother’s Day is the best way to show her our gratitude and appreciation.”
