French National Day celebrated in Puducherry

Puducherry: Union Territory of Puducherry, a former French colony, celebrated the French National Day on Monday.

District Collector A Kulothungan, French Consul General in Puducherry and Chennai Etienne Rolland Piegue, and a number of French officials and the representatives of associations of retired French civil and military services personnel placed wreaths at the foot of 'Soldat Inconnu' (Unknown Soldier) at the French War memorial.

'Bastille Day', also known as French National Day, commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in France in 1789 during the French Revolution that marked the end of the absolute monarchy and the beginning of the French Republic.

The band wing of the Puducherry police presented the national anthem of India and the national song of France, with all those present standing in rapt attention.

The beach road where the French war memorial is situated brought back old memories among the people of Puducherry, which was under French rule for several decades before becoming free in 1962.

The French National Day was also celebrated in Karaikal, a constituent region of Puducherry, on Monday.

French nationals and representatives of the various associations exchanged greetings in French, which reminded the people of the unique French culture that prevails here.