Culture in Pondicherry

Pondicherry culture is very rich and diverse. It is a place where the cultural impacts of several traditions have merged to form a cultural in itself. The glorious past is reflected well in the cultural practices of the people of the union territory of Pondicherry.

The dominant cultural practices in Pondicherry are mainly influenced and inspired by the traditions and customs of the people of the Tamil origin on one hand and the lifestyle of the French colonizers. The spirit of the union territory of Pondicherry lies in this unique fusion.

The Pondicherry people, culture, festivals together contribute to the lively ambiance of the place. Various fairs and festivals form an integral part of the culture of Pondicherry. Several aspects of the daily activities and lifestyle of the people are celebrated in these festivals. There are festivals dedicated to food and handicrafts as well.

During the colonial period a tradition of practicing art and crafts evolved in this place. Till date many people of Pondicherry work to keep this age old tradition alive. The local people are involved in making various dining mats, candles, incense sticks, wooden serving mats, screen paintings, batik paintings on clothes, etc.

On a trip to Pondicherry, the French Rivera of the East you will discover how in the two sectors of the place both the French and the Tamil culture are celebrated and maintained with equal enthusiasm.

The presence of two dominant influences have made the Pondicherry culture complex but very vibrant at the same time.

Food

Pondicherry is known for its food. Naturally. The French have an ancient culinary tradition that married with local cuisines to create what one writer calls a "mosaic of culinary integration". Pondicherry is the one place in India where one can buy bona fide French baguettes, brioches and pastries. Those apart, local restaurants specialise in good French food that is served up along side Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati and Punjabi cuisines.

Culture and Crafts

With a resident population that is truly multi-national and multi-ethnic, Pondicherry’s culture is a cosmopolitan one with strong ties to the indigenous culture of the region. A direct consequence of the exposure to so much diversity has been a secular attitude that is characteristic of the native of Pondicherry.

The crafts of Pondicherry are both traditional and contemporary. The former are of course those crafts that are indigenous to the area and use local materials in long-established ways. ‘Puducheri bommai’ are hand made dolls crafted from terracotta, papier-mache and plaster while ‘korai’ mats are woven from a grass found locally. The contemporary crafts of Pondicherry owe much to the ethos and philosophy of the Aurobindo Ashram. From the Ashram come such ecologically sound crafts as hand made paper, rice paper, incense sticks, candles, hand woven cotton textiles, hand embroidered and painted fabrics, crochet, macramé bags, wall hangings and mats, wooden furniture, paper lamps, perfumes, rose water, cosmetics and herbal beauty products.