Organised by INTACH, The People for Pondicherry’s Heritage (PPH) and PondyCAN, with the Departments of Art & Culture and Tourism, Government of Puducherry, supported by the AFP, IFP and many other organisations and individuals.

Pondicherry’s 1st Heritage Festival in 2015 explored various facets of Pondicherry’s culture – its spiritual heritage, its contribution to the world of letters, visual and performing arts, both folk and classical, its traditional and contemporary crafts, and the work done by organisations, institutions and individuals towards understanding, conserving, and promoting its architectural heritage. It was a platform for experts from Pondicherry and beyond, old residents, new arrivals, guests and visitors to meet and discuss what is special about Pondicherry and how to preserve our beautiful and unique town, highlighting its rich architectural heritage through the venues where events were organised.

Pondicherry has forever been a very beautiful place in India and continues to be special. With its beautiful coast, lakes and forests, its history is rich with amazing people from India and around the world who have been attracted to its shores from time immemorial. The gift of these people to Pondicherry, India and the world has been the rich tapestry of its cultural and spiritual contribution through its architecture, its arts - performing and visual, its literature and philosophy. We are the custodians of this gift of Pondicherry’s to humanity and have a responsibility to future generations to conserve it and celebrate its beauty so that it is always remembered and forms the base upon which anything new is created.

Pondicherry’s 2nd Heritage Festival in 2016 will try to do just that by exploring specifically: 

Built heritage – how to conserve and restore it, with focus on the restoration/reconstruction of the collapsed Mairie Building; Natural Heritage: how to conserve and restore its coast, the wetlands and tanks and the forests - urban and rural; Heritage of Performing Arts: theatre, dance, music; Heritage of the Written Word: from extensive research being carried out on ancient texts, to Pondicherry’s rich history of its luminous writers, to what inspires its young writers; Heritage of Visual Arts: painting, sculpture, pottery, photography and art in public spaces.

The objectives of the Pondicherry Heritage Festival in 2016 remain the same as in 2015: 

-To create and strengthen this distinct identity of belonging and being Pondicherian for all its residents, 

-To show its specialness in all its variety to visitors who come from all over the country and the world, attracted by the idea of “Pondicherry”. 

-To create a platform for experts, historians, old and young residents and children to meet and discuss what is special about Pondicherry and how we can preserve our town.

Feel free to CONTACT US for further information.