The Telugus came to Mauritius in the 19th Century from the southern part of India, particularly from the following regions- Badraachalam, kaakinaada, Chittoor, Madras, Simhaachalam and Vishakhapatnam.
Together with other Indians of different ethnic groups, the Telugus came to work as indentured labourers. Needless to say they underwent untold sufferings working in the sugar cane fields and living in conditions of near slavery.
When the Telugus came to Mauritius they brought along with them valuable scriptures. They did their very best to preserve their culture, language and religion. They forcefully helped to transmit the above to their descendants and thus maintained their identity as Telugus.
In those days, the Andhra would meet in the evenings after a hard day’s work. They would meet in a modest thatched hut, which they built as their temple or place of worship. Here they would read and explain the Holy Scriptures. Here too, they would talk and discuss matters pertaining to religion and culture.