French Consulate draws up plans for Bastille Day celebrations

The French Consulate is geared up to celebrate Bastille Day, also the National Day of the French Republic, on Monday (July 14).

On Bastille Day eve (Sunday), a torchlight procession will be taken out from the Dupleix Statue on Goubert Avenue. This symbolic night march commemorates the Storming of the Bastille, a defining moment of the French Revolution. It symbolises the unity of the French people in forming a republic and serves as a reminder of the shared values and enduring friendship between France and India, the French Consulate said in a press note.

Etienne Rolland-Piègue, Consul General of France in Pondicherry and Chennai, will lead the Bastille Day ceremonies.

Wreaths will be placed at the War Memorials of Puducherry at 8.30 a.m. and Karaikal at 9.30 a.m. The War Memorials will remain open to families for one hour after the official ceremonies for private wreath-laying. The traditional July 14 fireworks display will take place on the seafront in front of the Consulate General of France.

According to the Consulate, the long-standing strategic partnership shared by France and India in the Indo-Pacific region was recently reaffirmed by the visit of Sophie Primas, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Her visit to Chennai and Puducherry highlights the significant role of French enterprises in creating employment, transferring skills, and contributing to the dynamic economic development of the region. Additionally, Samuel Ducroquet, France’s Ambassador for Sports, visited India to promote Indo-French cooperation and inclusivity in the field of sports.

Meanwhile, the continued visits of Ambassador Thierry Mathou to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry reflect the deep and enduring friendship between France and India, as well as the growing cooperation across multiple domains.

In Chennai, this year’s celebration that took place on Friday, was attended by Yann Delaunay, Executive Director of France Volontaires, who is visiting India on the occasion of the launch of the Indo-French Volontariat International en Enterprise Alumni Network.