Independence Day Celebrations in Puducherry

Hello Visitors, I am glad to inform that the Union territory of Pondicherry celebrated Independence Day (De Junre Day) on 16^th August 2014 with great fun and enthusiasm. The day started with hoisting of national flag and paying tribute to the freedom fighters.

The Chief Minister of Pondicherry N. Rangasamy arranged a tea party for all the freedom fighters and the cabinet members of the territorial administration.

It is believed that Puducherry formally got merged with the Indian union on 1962. The French government came forward to liberate the territory from its rule following a referendum at Kizhoor village on November 1 in 1954 in which 174 of the total 181 councilors elected from various commune panchayats in Puducherry (21), Karaikal (8), Mahe (2) and Yanam (1) regions cast their votes against the French rule. Seven councilors did not take part in the exercise. Subsequently, the French in Puducherry ended on November 1 in 1954. 

However, it took almost nine years for the formal merger of Puducherry with Indian union after the Indian and French parliaments ratified the 'treaty of cession' on August 16, 1962. Since then, Puducherry celebrates Independence Day on August 16 while the rest of the nation on August 15. 

A section of freedom fighters demanded celebrating November 1 as Independence Day as it was on this day that the French rule ended and August 16 as the Republic Day as it was on this daythat Puducherry formally merged with the Indian union. However, Puducherry government decided to celebrate November 1 as liberation day and declared a public holiday on the day.