The Union territory of Pondicherry encompasses an area of only 480 sq km with Pondicherry town and its villages covering 290 sq.km surrounded by the south Arcot District, Karaikal town and its villages covering 161 sq.km surrounded by Tanjavur district, Mahe and its villages covering 9 sq km surrounded by the Kerala state, and Yanam covering 20 sq.km within the East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. While Pondicherry, the head quarters of the union territory, lies 162 km south of Madras and 22 km north of Cuddalore, Karaikal is about 150 km south of Pondicherry and Yanam about 840 km north-east of Pondicherry on the Andhra Coast. Mahe lies almost parallel to Pondicherry, 653 km away on the west coast.

HISTORY

Pondicherry, the capital of the territory was once the original headquarters of the French in India. It was under the Fench rule for 138 years and merged with the Indian Union on November 1954.

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

Pondicherry is an abode of temples dedicated to Lord Sulramaniar and various forms of ammans viz, Muthumariammam, Angalamman, etc. The famous fire walking and Sedal festival are generally the most important festivals of these temples.

1. Fire walking - Those who vow to take part in the fire walking ordeal observe 40 days fast and wear saffron coloured clothes and after a purificatory bath, walk through the fire stretch to the astonishment of the spectators.

2. Sedal - The famous sedal is understood to mean self-imposed physical torture undertaken by devotees who pierce small silver hooks and spears in their body or tongues in fulfillment of some vow. It is said that as many as 100 needles are pierced over their body. They then go in a procession after a bathclad in turmeric strained clothes.

3. Mascarade festival - Mascarade or Mask festival is celebrated sometime during March-April in Pondicherry It reflects one more facet of the French sense of humor with fantastic mask and fancy costumes, revelers go round the streets in joyous merriment indulging in a kind of gimmic dance to the accompaniment of beating accordion the trumpets.

4. International Yoga Festival - Yogis and Yognis from the world over assemble in Pondicherry from the 4th to the 7th January every year. Through live show and talks, through the display and sample of the varied yogic food and through Indian dance and music, they keep alive the art of Yoga. Its science. And its Pondicherry.

Other festivals/fairs include, one in Karaikal Ammayur temple which holds the annual 'Mangani' festival (July) which is a well attended 'Mela' as also Kandoori festival celebrated by Karaikal Durga and the feast of our lady of Lourdes celebrated by our lady of Lourdes church.

The St. Theresa Church in Mahe celebrates St.Theresa festival in October every year which is attended by even non-Christians.

Bhagavathi temple which conducts 'Thiraiyattam' which is a kind of dance of ancient art coupled with divinity is another worth mentioning celebration.

Another important festival is 'Masimagam Festival'- on the Full moon day of the 'Magam' asterism in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-March) thousands of people in good faith go the sea shore in the early morning to have a holy dip in the sea for ablution of their sins.

Deities from as many as fifty temples in Pondicherry and from the outlying areas of Tamil Nadu are brought in ceremonial procession to the sea-shore with accompaniment of Nadhaswaram near Kuruchikuppam in Pondicherry municipal area for the symbolic immersion. Pondicherry will wear a festive galore from early morning to the late night of the day. The deities which are taken to the shore early morning make their return journey to their respective places in procession along the streets of Pondicherry in the evening.

In Thirukannapuram village in Tamil Nadu area there is a saying that deity of sowriraja perumal married a fishermen community woman and hence the moment the deity enters the village the fishermen take charge of the deity and after the festival is completed the charges are replaced.

Other festivals or fairs celebrated in Pondicherry include Putha Lanthira, Mandolilthira, Koyodan Korothithra, Pandokuloththira, Mandalam vilakku, vishnutheertham, Swamikalyanam, etc.

The Mahe district which is situated near Kerala celebrate festivals similar to Kerala like Onam, Vishu, Sri Krishna Jayanti, Vinayaga Chathurthi etc.

Language spoken in numbers
As of 2001, number of people speaking in each official languages are,

Tamil: 220,749 (In Pondicherry and Karikal Districts)
Telugu: 31,362 (In Pondicherry and Yanam Districts)
Malayalam: 36,823 (In Mahe District only)
French: Above 10,000

Places to visit
>> Puducherry Beach
>> Auroville
>> Aurobindo Ashram
>> Chunnambar Boat House
>> Bharathi Park
>> Museum
>> Romain Rolland Library
>> Botanical Garden
>> Anglo-French Textile Mills

Milk production and distribution is well organised and it is largely in the cooperative sector. A well established modern dairy is one of the achievement s of Pondicherry.

Fishery is an important occupation as the Union Territory has a total length of about 45 km of coastline. There are about 28 sea fishing villages in the union territory. While those engaged purely in inland fishing number 17. The inland fishery depends on lakes, ponds, tanks and river water.

Main item exported include rice, fish, hides and skin etc.

There are 23 large and 79 medium scale industries. There are also 5, 400 small scale industries. All these generate employment opportunities to nearly 50,000 persons.

Agriculture

Nearly 45 per cent of the population of the Union Territory is engaged in agriculture and allied pursuits. Ninety per cent of the cultivated area is irrigated. Paddy is the predominant crop followed by pulses. Mahe region contributes to the plantation wealth of this territory. Crops like coconuts, arcanuts, condiments and spices are grown here. Pulses, groundnut and chillies are the other crops grown in Yanam. During 200-01, 27,972 hectares had been cultivated under rice.

Industry

With an investment of over Rs. 1,429 crore, 6.607 industries are providing employment to 77,341 persons as on 31 March 2001. The number of industrial unites regestered up to May 2001 is 6,634 units. The total value of production from these industrial units works out to Rs. 9,141.34 core. The industrial units are manufacturing items such as textiles, computers and peripherals, UPS and other electronic products, consumber durables, fast moving consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, leather goods, earth moving equipments, sugar, yarn, spirit, beer, potassium chlorate, rice-bran oil, auto parts, disposable syringes, roofing sheets, washing machines, bio-polymers, steel tubes, LPG cylinders, etc. The export value of various products manufactured by the industries was Rs.307.31 crore during 1999-2000.

Irrigation

Irrigation in Pondicherry is mainly through tanks and tube wells. There are 84 tanks with an ayacut of 6,456 hectare of which tow are comparatively bigger (Oustery and Bahour). In addition, there were 84 surface water storage irrigation tanks with a total command area of 6,765 ha, and with a water holding capacity of 46.4 mcm. There were also 140 small tanks for harvesting surface water. The number of bore well has increased to about 7,000 from nearly 1,000 in the early sixties. Nearly 90per cent of the net cropped area is now under irrigation. During 2001-02, 13 tanks have been identified for rehabilitation and community organising works have been completed in 12 tanks.

Power

The power requirements of Pondicherry are met by availing share from the Central generating stations and by purchasing power from neighbouring State Electricity Boards. A combined Cycle Gas Power Plant of 32.5 MW at Karaikal is under operation since January 2000/ The T. R.Pattinam 110/11KV Substation associated with Gas Power Plant was commissioned in July 1997. One 110/22 KV sub-station at Thethampakkam was commissioned on 24 January 2001. A 230 KV line from Neyveli to Bahour was commissioned in June 2001 which is a second source of supply to the 230/110 KV Bahour Auto Sub Station.

Tourism

Serenity

This beach is ten-minute drive to the north of the town. The ambience is well-captured in its name. It is ideal for a quick dip and for sun bathing.

Plage Paradiso

At Chunnambarm 8kms from the town, along Cuddalore Main Road, lies this stretch of tropical paradise. Flanked by a quiet-flowing creek on one side. You can sail downstream to the sands and pitch up a cozy seaside tent for yourself. Overnight within the tree-houses on the backwater banks provides a relishing experience of the great outdoors.

A short, pleasant cruise into the sea from here could reward you with the memorable sight of playful dolphins in natural habitat, horsing around.

Karaikal Beach

Sunrise-watchers can catch their magnificent view over the bay, with the pretty Arasalar river reaching out to the sea.

Alternatively, you can canoe or Kayak in picture-book surroundings or have a round of beach volley ball.

Mahe Beach

Twenty two kms south of Kannur, on the northern strip of coastal Kerala lies this bewitching beach strip. From Calicut, you will find this 75kms north of the town, bordered by a luxuriant crop of tall palm and dotted with numerous fishing hamlets.

Yanam River Cruise

Yanam, in coastal Andhra Pradesh, provides a different route to exhilaration. As you enjoy a sunset cruise down the spectacular Goringa Godavari river which winds through rich mangrove forests.