Celebrating the 8th Heritage Festival of Pondicherry -2022

4rd March to 27th March 2022 

In its eight year, the Pondicherry Heritage Festival (PHF) continues to celebrate the character of this extraordinary town and its environs. Originally conceived to draw attention to conserve Pondicherry’s outstanding architectural legacy, the festival has expanded its scope to embrace other aspects of heritage. It is the interplay of its diverse built environment, an idyllic seaside setting, its waterbodies and ancient system tanks and ponds, a rich spiritual and intellectual history, and fascinating combination of indigenous and imported cultural practices that gives Pondicherry its distinctive flavour.

The theme for this year is “Celebrating the Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Bio Region”. The Natural and Cultural heritage is as much at risk as built heritage, and often gets overlooked. This year the festival will draw attention to the acute need to preserve and safeguard this heritage, not just of Pondicherry but the Bio Region as it is all interconnected and separated only by political and administrative boundaries.

This year too we have the “Creative expression by children” but all the events will be held online. The theme for school and college student are Celebrating the Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Bio Region. An attractive event is planned for students of all ages as they are the ones who will be responsible to preserve this heritage for the generations to come.

As always, the schedule will be brimming with music, dance, and book launches and an introduction to the wildlife of the bio region and workshops on biodiversity mapping. This year, the festival runs in parallel with the Waterfest 2022 and also the Local Food Systems festival. Pondicherry’s and Auroville’s creative entrepreneurs making the finest products and beautiful handicrafts will once again come to the Crafts Bazaar for the Made in Pondy setting up stalls, bringing their products under one roof. There are new events planned this year, to take people out to the traditional villages to experience the agrarian life and partake in their healthy food. There will be special Creole cuisine on offer and the now popular Pondy food trail too. The beautiful sunrises of Pondy can be enjoyed with a guided tour of the town’s special places and heritage walks this time will include the success stories of the efforts and wishes of the People of Pondicherry thanks to which important Government buildings have been or are in the process of being restored: The old Court house, the old Light house, Calve College, VOC school, Pensionnat des Jeunnes filles and some privately restored buildings too. These heritage tours will include walking, cycling and cycle Rickshaw rides. Due to the unprecedented situation in the past 2 years, the planning of this festival was left to the last minute. But we are very encouraged to see how the events are adding up and we know they will continue to do so as we go along almost till the last day which has already been extended twice

Inauguration

On 04th March 2022, in its eight year, the Pondicherry Heritage Festival (PHF) continues to celebrate the character of this extraordinary town and its environs.
Inauguration was held at Alliance Francaise and Inaugurated by Tourism Minister K Lakshminarayanan.

Melange des Melodies Semi Classical Music Recital by Shobha Ramesh.:
A Melange des Melodies Semi Classical Music Recital vocal by Shobha Ramesh was set in the auditorium of the Alliance Francaise, this program took the audience on a journey in time through the Spiritual poetic Heritage of India from the 7th century till our times.


Book Launches

Sketches of Pondicherry”, this book was launched on 12th March, at INTACH office, Pondicherry. Launch of booklet by Ar. Kamalahasan Ramaswamy in memory of Ar.Ajit Koujalgi.


Book launch of TreeS of pondicherry by Vigneshwaran followed by a tree walk at 5:30pm
“Trees of Pondicherry”, this book was launched on 24th March, at Le Dupleix. Launch of booklet by Vigneshwaran.

On 5th of March, Wildlife in the Bio Region talk by Aurosylle and Tim was held in auditorium of the Alliance Francaise, this program took the audience on a journey through the wildlife in the Bio Region.

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Workshop

Yoga Workshop for women (ages 16 ‐ 60)

On 22nd of March, Yoga Workshop for women (ages 16 – 60) by Tapas Yoga Shala and Chinmaya Mission, followed by breakfast and talk by Brahmacharini Sharanya Chaitanya. Workshop was held in Chinmaya surya, Krishna Nagar, Pondicherry.

DISPLAY AND SALE

Made in Pondy brings a collection of the finest products in the region, made and designed by our brightest local talent. The products were at sale in the Kariappa House, on 25th March 2022

Local Tours covering the Bio-region

Sadhana Forest Tour, flim and dinner


Pondicherry Heritage festival conducted Sadhana Forest Tour, flim and dinner on 11th March. This tour took the participant on a forest journey.


Thengaithittu lagoon biodiversity and sailing

Pondicherry Heritage festival conducted Thengaithittu lagoon biodiversity and sailing held on 12th and 20th March. This tour took the participant through boat to explore Recognizing the natural heritage of the Thengaithittu estuary.


Kizhur village tour 

Pondicherry Heritage festival conducted Kizhur village Tour with optional lunch at chez pushpa on 13th March. This tour took the participant on to explore the rural of Pondicherry. Including local storyteller, village pottery, rural side and farming, monument and temple, village people and their livelihood, witnessing their local traditions, lifestyle and food.


A day in the village with High Tea in a Franco‐ Tamil home


Pondicherry Heritage festival conducted A day in the village Tour on 20th march, to explore of our naturescape, people, culture, craft and food. Including Immerse in terracotta and papier mache, scared banyan and life of Pi movie location, Local lunch at folk temple by farm side, bullock cart ride and farm walk for photo stop, High tea at a Franco – Tamilian home.


Camp:Indigenous Knowledge and Forests


On 26th of March, Saturday 2pm to 27th March, Sunday 9am an educative travel immersion to see things differently at nature. An Indigenous tribe as wildlife guide event like Reforested land visit, Orientation to Tropical Dry evergreen forest, Nature camping, Bon fire, BBQ & Dinner, Nocturnal walk, Star gazing, Early morning bird watching, local medicinal plants orientation, camp breakfast. This program took the participants on a journey through the nature life.


Film Screening

Introduction to the Marathi film with subtitles "Pondicherry"

On 14th of March, The Marathi film with subtitles “Pondicherry” by its director Sachin Kundalkar followed by a screening of this just released film. When the Marathi full‐length feature “Pondicherry”,shot entirely on a smartphone, had a public screening the other day, there were gasps of surprise in the audience as some viewers saw themselves in the frames.



Performance


On 27th March, the closing ceremony of Pondicherry Heritage festival closed with Anita Ratnam and friends presenting COLOR PLAY – an evening of dance storytelling at Kariappa House

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                                                                      If any event or mention has been omitted, it is totally unintentional. 

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