Volunteers from French institutions, including students, carrying torch-lit lanterns take part in a march organized by the French Consulate as part of Bastille Day celebrations 2023 in Puducherry on Thursday. , Photo Credit: SS Kumar
The French consulate hosted a torch-light march on Promenade beach on Thursday on the eve of this year’s Bastille Day celebrations, which fall on a Friday.
The procession started from the Statue de Dupleix and ended in front of the French Consulate.
Volunteers from French institutions, including students of the French Department of Pondicherry University, participated in the rally carrying torch-lit lanterns depicting the national flags of India and France.
According to the consulate, the night-march commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison, one of the key events of the French Revolution. This symbolic event pays tribute to the day when the people of France came together to form a nation, overcoming the social barriers of the time to rebel against the absolute monarchy in power.
Consul General of France in Pondicherry and Chennai, Lise Talbot Barre said, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between France and India, the republican march will also be an occasion to celebrate Franco-Indian friendship.
The growing bilateral ties between the strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific span a range of areas from defense and security to space research, economic and trade relations, education, culture, scientific research and sports.
The consulate said that this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation as the guest of honor at the Bastille Day celebrations in Paris at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron provides an extraordinary context for the commemorative events.
Wreaths will be laid at Pondicherry War Memorial at 8.30 am and at Karaikal War Memorial at 10.30 am on Friday. The war memorial will be open to families for one hour after the official ceremonies for private wreath-laying. At 8.30 p.m., the traditional Bastille Day fireworks display will take place on the beach in front of the consulate.
Later, the Consul General will present the Chevalier Awards to an academic and two classical musicians for their contribution to strengthening ties between France and India.
The Chevalier des Palms will be awarded to George Rajan, coordinator of French teaching with the Department of Education at Académie Puducherry.
The Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres medals will be presented to Carnatic singer Aruna Sairam and flautist Shashank Subramaniam at the National Day celebrations of the French Republic to be held in Chennai on Saturday.