PUDUCHERRY: The 229th French National Day was celebrated today in the union territory, a former French colony, with fervour and gaiety.
The day is also known as 'Bastille Day' as it was in July 14, 1789 that the Bastille prison in France was stormed, marking the outbreak of the French revolution.
Puducherry Collector Devesh Singh, French Consul General Catherine Suard and representatives of various organisations of retired French civil and military personnel and French nationals paid homage to the statue of 'Soldat Inconnu' (Unknown Soldier) at the War Memorial on the occasion.
The police band played national songs of India and France as part of the celebration.
Puducherry retains French culture and the headgear of the policemen represent the design adopted in France.
There are institutions like the French Institute, which offers research in Indology and other fields.
Official sources told PTI around 6,000 French nationals reside in Puducherry. French is one of the official languages of the Puducherry government.