Bastille Day held in Puducherry

Chennai: The French consulate and French citizens in the Union Territory of Puducherry paid solemn tributes to war heroes at French War Memorial on Goubert Avenue on the occasion the 228th French National Day or Bastille Day.

The coastal town which shares strong historical and cultural ties with France paid rich tributes to the brave soldiers who dedicated their lives in World War I. 

Fireworks illuminated the beach promenade area on Friday night giving extra light to the brightly illuminated Consulate General building. 

The instrumental versions of the national anthems of India and France were heard playing from the Consulate General building as the celebration of Indo-French relations.

On Thursday the consulate organised a procession carrying a lantern, 'retraite aux flambeaux' in which a sizeable number of French citizens participated. It was on this day in 1789 that Bastille prison in Paris was stormed, marking the outbreak of French Revolution. The movement was guided by the inspiring slogans of 'Liberty, Equality and Fraternity

District collector Satyendra Singh Dursawat and Consul General of France here Philippe Janvier Kamiyama were among those who paid homage at the statue of 'Soldat Inconnu' (Unknown Soldier) at the French government maintained War Memorial here as part of the celebration.