HIDESIGN Launches The ICONS

Pondicherry based Hidesign, India’s leading luxury leather and lifestyle brand celebrates 35 years of heritage and craftsmanship. With centuries old skills of tanning with natural seeds and barks, and hand making in full grain leather, Hidesign has attained an exclusive place in the minds of its patrons.

To commemorate the occasion, Hidesign launches its Icon Collection. The collection re-launches some of the earliest styles, maintaining the same purity reflected in the original bags: vegetable-tanned leathers, solid brass, cotton and leather lining and designs that have stood the test of time over the last 35 years.

The Icon Collection boasts of eleven classic styles such as doctor bags, briefcases, satchels and duffel. The romance of travel has been a constant muse for Hidesign through the year, and the same spirit is captured in the Icon bags.

Hidesign attempts to create a window to the brands formative years through the ‘Icon Exhibition’- an exhibition showcasing images of the company’s journey so far and key styles from its archives. The exhibition kicks off in Hidesign’s hometown Pondicherry from 13th- 20th September, 2014.It is slated to travel to Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore in the following months.

The collection will be launched at Hidesign stores across India after the exhibition.

New Director At Alliance Française De Pondichérry

Alliance française de Pondichéry (AFP), one of the oldest in the world and the first Alliance française of Asia bid adieu to its charismatic director Fabrice Mongiat in August. Olivier Litvine, who was the director of Alliance française de Dhaka (AFD), has now taken over the directorship of AFP.

As the new director, Litvine’s first project will be a photo exhibition titled ‘War and colonies (1914-1918)’. The photo exhibition was organised at AFD by Litvine earlier this year commemorating the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Litvine is planning to bring this exhibition to the “French town” of India on November 11^th, Armistice Day. Armistice Day is celebrated as a global commemoration of the day the pact was signed between the Allies and Germany at Compiègne in France to put an end to World War I.

Speaking to Centenary News, Litvine said, “The photographic exhibition is ‘no Spielberg exhibition’ just the faces and postures of real men fighting a dirty war.”

The exhibition features a rich collection of photographs from the battlefields of World War I including 35 rare photographs of colonial troops in the Great War. Many cities in India are currently hosting this exhibition and it is an incredible opportunity to have it come to Puducherry on Armistice Day. Around 6.5 lakh colonial troops fought in the World War I including an estimated 1.5 lakh Indians.

Apart from the photo exhibition, the new director is also planning ‘Encounters’, an annual Indo-French festival where artists and writers from France as well as India who were influenced by the French culture will have a common platform to showcase their talents. Musicians from Réunion Island are also expected to participate in this festival. Litvine also plans to encourage a collaboration of French designers and local talents to bring in a taste of French Fashion to Pondicherry.

PondyART’s New Exhibition Cum Pop-Up Market

PondyART is organizing its new event “The Big Indian Street Picture” by Dhruv Dhakan and Swarat Ghosh on 12 September at the Old Distillery, at the end of Beach Road.

The exhibition will open this Friday at 5pm. The photographs will be on exhibit until mid-October and will remain open for the public eye from 11 am to 6 pm. The Department of Tourism, Govt. of Puducherry is supporting this endeavour of PondyART as are The Hindu, Kasha Ki Asha, Trikaya Photos and Palani Hills Design Center. The exhibition will be opened with an on-site Pop-Up Market to emphasize and support the show’s presentation of street life.

The participants of the Pop-Up Market include but are not limited to Divaart, Takla Makan, Sharana, Raga and Kriti NGOs, Aicha, Naushad Ali, Ocean, Will’m,  Artyzan, Muthu Leathers, Harmony House and Kasha Ki Asha.

“The Big Indian Street Picture” will have selected works of Dhakan and Ghosh, both Indian photographers who have captured the scenes of India in color and black and white. Dhruv Dhakan is a street photographer and graphic/web designer based in Ahmedabad. Swarat Ghosh, a visual designer by profession is based in Hyderabad. The photos captured in cities like Ahmedabad, Varanasi and Hyderabad speak of moments and people and offer a record of vibrant street life.

PondyART, which was created in December 2012, runs monthly exhibitions at the Old Distillery. As per the motto of Pondy ART, ‘To Get Art Out There’, it utilises public space to build awareness of the issues challenging India today through fine art photography.  Pondy ART also organizes Pondy PHOTO an annual photography festival.

Pondicherry Heritage Buildings To Be Restored

Presenting the budget of 2014-15, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy proposed that the government has decided to renovate 18 government owned heritage buildings in Puducherry at the estimated cost of Rs. 80 crores. The 18 buildings that have been identified for this project include the Old Light House, V.O.C. School, Pensionnat De Jeunes Filles, Soucilabai School, Government Hospital, Head post office and Indian Coffee House among others.

Puducherry being a city with a fusion of European and ancient Indian culture has many of its buildings reflecting the blend of two rich cultures in its architecture. All the buildings proposed for renovation are either located near the Promenade Beach or in the government sector of the town and hence once they are refurbished, the skyline of the town is sure to get aesthetically more appealing.

The government has also began the process of preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for two museums by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).

According to a report by The Hindu, Ashok Panda, co-convener of INTACH said, “We are happy to learn that the Chief Minister has proposed in the Puducherry budget the restoration of the government heritage buildings at a cost of Rs. 80 crore. It is important because the government is leading by example and heritage preservation in Puducherry has gained a renewed focus. The work on the renovation of Bharathiyar Memorial Museum is progressing well. We will also be preparing the DPR for two government museums’’.

The government has also proposed plans to promote tourism in Puducherry for which Rs. 65.50 crores have been allocated in the budget. A website has been launched for the same along with 360 degree media campaigns. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the Govt. Of Puducherry with Ille-et-Vilaine, a region in France for promotion of tourism.

Other initiatives announced in the budget also include development of Thirukameswarar kovil, Villianur and eco-beach resorts in Puducherry along with development of the Rock Beach. With the new plans that are expected to come into action soon, Puducherry is all set to get a face-lift.

Five Myths About Pondicherry You Better Not Believe

If you’re planning a trip to Pondicherry, be prepared to be supplied with a mix of facts and exaggerations. Or allow us to sift the truths from the myths.

Myth 1: Inebriated men straggle in the streets

I can vouch that spotting  a bottle of mineral water in Pondy is much harder than finding a bottle of liquor- which by the way, is available in every third store! But in no way does it imply that Puducherry is crawling with people in various states of intoxication.

Yes, taxes are low and liquor is cheap. Drinking is a weekend ritual (weekdays too)! Yet, Pondy is generally considered safe for travellers. Read the umpteen solo-travel blogs or ask the many women enjoying a seat at the Promenade beach, all by themselves.

Myth 2: Everyone speaks French

You are likely to be understood if you say ‘Bonjour’, but if you venture to practice your French verbs on the local population, you may draw a blank- or a confused stare! We may have bilingual street signs, a significant expat population and  a number of fluent French speaking Pondicherrians, but it is a misconception that every second person you meet, can converse in French. Even the rues  and churches have their own vernacular equivalents. So if you’re navigating the heritage town with a map ,stick with landmarks like buildings and statues.

Myth 3: If you’re not after the beach or the booze, there’s little Pondy has to offer

Pondy, notorious for its laidback atmosphere and a sense of ennui, is often considered as a place to ‘just chill’. While the beaches- and we admit, the booze- are big draws, they are not the only ones. The mix of French and Tamil heritage, the spiritual vibes rooted in the city and the spread of international cuisine have been charming people for a long time. And from mid- 2014, the city is in the middle of a makeover as a festival destination. In the last few weeks alone, festivals geared to lure foodies, kite-lovers, marathon runners have all been launched. Be it yoga, film making, photography, painting, shopping , surfing, scuba diving or bicycling- the multiple interests in you will find something to revel here.

Myth 4: Pondy is a slice of France

Pondy is dubbed as the French Riviera of India, but those who have sauntered the streets of ‘Gay Paree’, will tell you it is a far cry from the chic European city. True, the boulevards, kepi-wearing policemen, croissants and French names that crop up all over the city, keep the French influence alive. But it is the co-existence of two different cultures that blend beautifully every now and then to create Franco-Indian food, architecture and heritage that makes Pondicherry unique.  After you walk the cobbled lanes of the French town, stroll through the thinnai- fronted houses in the quaint Tamil quarter, look for remnants of the past in the colourful Muslim quarter and shop at the bustling local markets to experience Pondicherry in totality.

Myth 5: Auroville is in Pondicherry; Pondicherry is in Tamil Nadu

If you’re writing a blog or posting up an album on Flickr after your trip to Pondy, it is always good to get your geography right! So repeat after us- Auroville is in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry is well, in Pondicherry. Though geographically located within Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry is a union territory. What does that mean? Well, less power-cuts, for one thing!  The misconception that the international township of Auroville is part of the  UT, exists perhaps because of its spiritual roots in the city ,or its proximity.

A bonus truth:

Nothing in Pondy is far away: If somebody tells you that some spot if  quite far- take the advice with a pinch of salt. Or if you’re from Bangalore, Chennai or any metro, simply ignore it. In Pondy parlance, anything beyond four kilometres is far. You can get to these ‘far’ places, in the same time you go from T. Nagar to Saidapet in normal evening traffic!

 

Tamil French Dictionary: Overcoming The Language Barrier

In an effort to help the Tamil speaking people residing in France to overcome the language barrier, H. Nagarajan, a native of Puducherry now residing in France has compiled a French-Tamil dictionary. This dictionary called Dictionnaire Français Moderne runs to more than 700 pages with detailed entries and meanings in French and Tamil. Apart from the usual word-meanings, the dictionary also features an annexure which has commonly used French terms, abbreviations, idioms and phrases, slang, colloquial words and expressions used in the French language.

Nagarajan, who learnt French at the Alliance Française in Puducherry was quoted by The Hindu as saying, “After my graduation from Tagore Arts College in 1974, I got an offer to work in France. But, language was a barrier. I sought to bridge the gap and joined a French language course at the Alliance Française. I picked up the language to help me adapt better to jobs and later settled in France”.

Nagarajan, now a French national is competent in both Tamil and French and hence was able to compile this dictionary, but not without difficulties. Seven years of hard work and efforts have gone into compiling this bilingual dictionary from classical French dictionary. Nagarajan feels that the obstacles he faced in compiling this dictionary pales in comparison to its huge success among people.

France has a considerable population of Tamilians from India and Sri Lanka, including refugees who are not very fluent in French. This bilingual dictionary will be immensely helpful for Franco-Tamils to adjust and cope better in France.

Beach Road Of Pondicherry To Get A Facelift

The Beach Road (Promenade or Rock Beach) of Puducherry is prepped for its monsoon cleaning, as the Puducherry Municipal Authorities have begun the process of relocating the mobile cart vendors and hawkers near the Gandhi statue to a new location in the beach area. The order for relocation came from Lieutenant Governor Ajay Kumar Singh.

The Rock Beach is one of the most prominent tourist spots of Puducherry, and the unregulated hawking has had raised cries of outrage from tourists and authorities alike.

The authorities felt that the hawking is marring the aesthetic beauty of the beach front.

According to a report by The Hindu, S. Rajamanickam, Puducherry Municipal Commissioner, has said, “We have to do a balancing act of beautifying the beach so as to attract the tourists on the one side and rehabilitating vendors on the other. We identified a place behind the Promenade Hotel and the hawkers have agreed to move there. The trader’s complex is coming up here at a cost of Rs. 45 lakh.”

The mobile carts selling products varying from sea shells to compact disks and the innumerable food stalls have spread, taking up a most of the place on the beach leaving little space to walk. And wastes from these shops, including paper plates, cups, left over food could be found lying on the beach road. Despite the efforts of the Municipality, which has installed a large number of dustbins, the garbage is still strewn all over the place.

In an effort to keep the beach a clean and pollution free zone, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Puducherry had ordered the civic authorities to remove the cart vendors, in the early 2011. However, the Puducherry Kadarkarai Siru Viyaparigal Nala Sangam (beach small traders’ welfare association) had appealed to the Madras High court demanding a fair mechanism for the relocation. Following the court order, a meeting was held last June to decide the relocation process of the beach vendors.

The beach vendors have been doing this business for over three-decades and relocating them would affect their business tremendously. But after a long legal battle, the authorities have succeeded in convincing the vendors to move out. A consent letter was given by the vendors a few weeks ago and a deadline of one month has been set for the completion of relocation.

Although the move promises to promote tourism, many who throng the beach for an evening walk with their weekly dose of sundals and pani puris and cotton candies are sure to be left disappointed.

Sense of Auroville

Sense of Auroville” – join a 1-day walking tour of Auroville to get an insight into the Aurovilan way of life.

Pre-registration is not necessary. Just show up on any Thursday morning at Dreamer’s Cafe in the Visitors Centre at 8.30am and be welcomed by the team Auroville Retreat.

Day / Date / Time : every Thursday  from 8.30am to 4pm
Fee : Rs. 850 per participant inclusive of cycle hire (as needed), lunch, tea and snacks (please call and check for the revised tariff)

For more information :
Landline : 0413 2622571
Cell : (0) 89402 19725
Email : info@aurovilleretreat.org
Website : aurovilleretreat.org
Venue : Auroville Retreat, a project of Auroville Consulting, Saracon, Kottakarai, Irumbai post, Auroville, Tamil Nadu 605101, India

Puducherry Liberation Day

The Lt. Governor of Puducherry, A.K. Singh issued a notification on August 30th declaring November 1st as Puducherry Liberation Day and a public holiday. November 1st which has been considered as the traditional liberation day will from now on be an official holiday in the Union Territory and will henceforth replace the Independence Day of 16th August.

Puducherry along with its surrounding areas of Mahe, Yanam and Karaikal had their de facto transfer from French India to the Republic of India on this day in the year 1954. It was on this day that Puducherry stopped being a French colony and became a Union Territory. Yanam and Mahe had their liberation on 13th and 16th June respectively in the same year. But collectively November 1st has stuck as the Union Territory’s liberation day, which 60 years later is being turned into a public holiday.

Chief Minister N. Rangasamy promised that arrangements would be made in full force for Liberation Day by the territorial administration to commemorate the historic day in the freedom movement of Puducherry.

He said the decision had been taken after considering the recommendations of a committee, which had gone into the historical facts and evidence.

The Chief Minister expressed that the elected government of Puducherry lived at the mercy of the Central government in Delhi. This lack in executive power, he said, was a drawback for the elected government of Puducherry to go through with its plans and programmes for the union territory.

“We, therefore, demand that Statehood be granted without delay so that the expectations of the people can be fulfilled expeditiously and development plans could also be evolved,” he said, according to a report by The Hindu.

Onam – Celebrating Kerala’s Heritage & Culture

Onam is the harvest festival celebrated predominantly in Kerala. It is the state festival of Kerala and celebrated for ten days with an array of cultural programs, traditional food and rituals lined up for every day. Onam has much mythological significance apart from being the harvest festival.

The festival usually falls during the month of August or September, which is also the Malayalam month of Chingam. The festival marks the return of King Mahabali, who according to the Vishnu Puran was bested by Lord Sri Vishnu in his fifth incarnation as the dwarf sage Vamana. King Mahabali was a demon king and yet was revered by one and all. It is believed that every year during the month of Chingam, he revisits his kingdom from the underworld to see his people living happily.

Such was his love for his people and Onam is celebrated, rejoicing his annual visit. The Vamana avathar (incarnation) of Lord Sri Vishnu who is called Onatthappan is also worshipped during Onam. A clay figurine of Vamana is installed next to the traditional floral carpet in honor of Lord Sri Vishnu. The presiding deity of Thiruvanthapuram, Sri Padmanabhan’s birthday is celebrated as Thiruvonam, which is the most important day in the 10-day long Onam celebrations. Thiruvonam this year falls on 7th September.

Chingam is the first month of a new year in the Malayalam calendar, and the people welcome the new year with Atthachamayam (Royal parade on Atham Day) which marks the beginning of the Onam celebrations. All over the state the festival is celebrated with great pomp and fare and brings out the best of Kerala’s cultural heritage.

The traditional aspects of this festival are the Onapookkalam, which is the floral carpet made with flowers of different colors in the courtyards. The Onamsadhya which is the grand feast is prepared during Thiruvonam. The number of dishes in the Onamsadhya can go upto 30.

Onam is also famous for its unique and magnificent snake boat races, called Vallamkali wherein about 100 men row the majestic snake boat with hundreds of spectators cheering them on. Traditional dances like Thiruvathira, Kummattikali, Pulikali, Thumbi Thullal are also performed during Onam.

Though Onam is a festival of malayalees, it is also celebrated in other parts of South India. In Puducherry, it is perhaps celebrated with great fanfare in Pondicherry University which has many students from Kerala. Apart from the cultural performance organised, on Thiruvonam, that is 7th September, Onamsadhya will be prepared and served to all.

Are You “Franco-Pondicherrian”?

It always makes me smile when hearing someone ask me “Are you franco-pondicherrian?” Though I truly understand what this question entails, I cannot prevent myself time and again from thinking “what on earth does he mean?”. Yet, anyone who will have spent time in Pondicherry will have got to hear of this expression at some point or another.

What makes this expression bizarre is the fact that you would normally call someone who had a dual French and Indian citizenship, a “Franco-Indian” (or “Indo-French” for those who feel slightly more inclined towards the Indian side!). Putting aside the fact that India does not recognize dual nationality yet, the question remains, what is a “franco-pondicherrian” then? Is it a dual French and Indian citizen whose roots are from Pondicherry? Well, it appears that a franco-pondicherrian is in fact a French citizen who, despite not being from a legal point of view Indian, is still referred to by his origins to the Indian city of Pondicherry. I guess this term allows to differentiate between the French nationals and Indian nationals who both consider themselves as being truly Pondicherrians. Though it always takes me aback when hearing this term, in a strange way, I relate to it at the same time.

Being myself a French national whose roots are from Pondicherry, using this term immediately conveys a sense of where I belong to and where I come from. It conveniently bridges these two cultures to which French nationals who hail from Pondicherry are often profoundly attached to. Per se, the term is probably misleading, as a franco-pondicherrian is entirely French from a legal point of view and, as to my knowledge, there are no people of former French colonies called this way, but then again, this is a specificity that is somewhat amusing. Critics might say that this is an unfair way of distinguishing French people according to their country/place of origin and there may be a truth to this.

Would it be more socially acceptable to say “French of Indian origin”? Or why not “French of Pondicherrian origin”? But does this make much of a difference all said and done? I see utter confusion when I tell the person asking me whether I am a franco-pondicherrian, that I am in fact French, American, and Pondicherrian all at the same time! I guess this comes to show how diverse the inhabitants of Pondicherry are today, and what makes this city a truly charming melting pot.

Pondy Celebrates Ganesha Chathurthi

Its Ganesha Chathurthi and streets are busy with artists from in and around Pondicherry lining up their clay idols of Lord Ganesha. For many the day begins with buying the idol and then decorating it with a small woven umbrella and jewelry of beads.

Ganesha Chathurthi, also known as Vinayaka Charthuthi, is celebrated for three days. Idols of Ganesha as tall as 20 feet are installed around the town and poojas are performed twice a day. But smaller idols of 2 feet are bought by people to keep in their houses and do poojas.

Clay idols are more preferable over the ones made of plaster of paris as the former is more eco-friendly. As prasaatham kozhukattai, mothagam and aval pori (a mix of flattened rice and puffed rice) is offered in temples as well as at the temporary installation of these idols. These sweets are also individually prepared in most households.

In Saram area, a 20 feet tall Ganesha idol, painted in vibrant colours is installed and many cultural performances of dance and music are organised. People come from all around Puducherry to seek blessings of this majestic God. The Manakula Vinayagar temple with their special poojas for the occasion is also visited by many on this auspicious day. Devotees line up at the temple from early in the morning to get the darshan of the Lord.

After three days of religious poojas, where many people offer their prayers to Lord Ganesha, the idols from different places of installation are taken on a royal procession through the streets finally reaching the Bay of Bengal sea for immersion. This procession is a sight to behold with Ganesha idols of different sizes from 2 feet to 20 feet, taken on a ride.

It is believed that on this festival, when a Ganesha statue is brought to your house and poojas are performed, the Lord stays with you, helping you in your journey by removing all the obstacles. And when on the final day he is taken out on a procession, he takes with him all the negative force from your house, blessing you with prosperity and bliss.