PondicherryPondicherry Fairs and Festivals
Pondicherry is influenced by the French culture as the French ruled this city for over 300 years. It was one of the largest French colonies during ancient times. The languages spoken here are French, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. The town has been divided into two parts French quarter and the Indian quarter. But the streets still have French names.
Pondicherry, situated on the Coromandel Coast at a distance of 160 km from south coast of Chennai is a union territory of India. It is a unique city with a blend of spirituality, traditionalism and modernism. People from this city irrespective of their caste, religion and creed, bond together to celebrate various fairs and festivals.
Pondicherry fairs and festivals are great attractions for tourists. An important part of Pondicherry tourism, fairs and festivals here are unique or common as in other parts of India. Most of the festival rituals are quite common and are followed not only in Pondicherry but also in many other parts of India like decorating homes and temples, street processions, folk song, dancing and singing performances etc.
One of the most important festivals celebrated in Pondicherry is the Pongal festival. It goes on for four days. First day of the festival is called Bogi and it signifies Lord Indra who is the God of Rain. On the second day of Pongal, people cook rice porridge in the honour of Sun God. Mattu Pongal which is being celebrated on the third day is related to cows. Cows are fed with ornamented with garlands. And the fourth day is the farmer’s day which is called Kannum Pongal. On this day, women pray for the well being of their brothers on this auspicious day.
International Yoga festival is another popular festival which is held during the first week of January every year. Thousands of people from India and all over the world gather in this city to take part in the festival and to create awareness among the people. Masi Magam festival is also very well celebrated in Pondicherry. The idols of Goddesses are carried out to the sea for a virtual bath through devotees.
French Food festival is an event that is held in August. The event is conducted mainly to promote Pondicherry tourism. Variety of cuisines get cooked in Pondicherry. Sea food, French local cuisine including some rare dishes are served up in the various hotels here much to the delight of tourists visiting this place.
The Villanur Temple Car Festival is much like the car festival of Puri whereby a decorated car carries the deity of Sri Gokilambal Thirukamemswarara kukilambal in a procession with people rejoicing amongst fairs and festivities to remember the glory, kindness and benevolence of this lord.
Bastille day festival is a lingering French festival which is celebrated with great fervour amongst the Pondicherry fairs and festivals. The fourteenth of July marks this day when the French revolution began and people commemorate this day in Pondicherry by taking out processions, singing the French national anthem ad so forth.
There are many more important festivals celebrated in Pondicherry like Onam, Birthday of Sri Aurobindo along with local festivities such as Panguni Uthiram, fire walking festival, Sedal, Mascarade festival and so forth.
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