If you don’t want that indolent summer holiday feeling to end, you can prolong it at Pondy. The ‘back to school’ vibes are yet to catch on here as schools reopen only in mid-June, this year. There are also opportunities to weave in a good deed or a fitness twist to your weekend break.
Tourist Ticker:
The waters surrounding Pondy are once again a fizz of activity, with fishing resuming earlier this week, after a 45-day statutory ban. The Thengaithittu harbour and the stretch of coast surrounding it are favourites with shutterbugs, for the sheer life and local flavour this area promises. Whether you blog, film or click, include a jaunt at dawn to the harbour for some lovely vignettes of local flavour.
Tuck In:
Fruit frenzy: Step out anytime between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and the reminder that summer is far from bidding adieu, hits you hard. But there is a brighter side to the protracted season- the abundance of seasonal fruits. If you are keen on feasting on mangoes and jackfruit and can think of a dozen recipes using these fruits, head to the Mango and Jackfruit Mela on the grounds near the Rajiv Gandhi statue. Nine varieties of mangoes among other seasonal fruits, including organically harvested ones procured from local farmers, are up for grabs. The mela offers the fruits at subsidised rates by the Puducherry Agro Products, Food and Civil Supplies Corporation (PAPSCO). Open between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Splurge:
Jam from Auroville: More good news for fruitarians! Auroville-based Solitude Farm, that is known for permaculture workshops and serving organic food, harvested right at the farm, is now bottling some of its locally grown produce. You can order mixed fruit jams that come in combos like papaya and banana, papaya and lemon and papaya and mango. Call 9843319260 or send and online request.
Pondy on the Web:
If you’re in Pondicherry with a smartphone or camera in hand, there is little chance that you won’t be clicking and sharing photographs by the dozen. With bountiful postcard-ready photo ops, you’re sure to make the most of them. The next time you are ready to instagram that ratatouille or tweet a selfie shot against the classic yellow walls, use the hashtag #MyPYpic to go viral. The Department of Tourism, Pondicherry Tourism will feature your pictures on all their social media avenues.
What to do:
In Auroville:
Get a taste of locally made international fashion: Watch style and chic unfold at the screening of The Dream , a short film made by the Lilith Fashion School, Auroville. Founded by Christine Sombray, a German fashion designer, the school offers a programme where students organise fashion shows and present individual designs. The screening will be held at 8 p.m. on Saturday at Zephyr Café, above the Visitor’s Centre Cafeteria. Catch new designs being presented, grab a bite at the café and linger around to discuss art and fashion. For details, call 948 6623 749.
In Pondy:
Dabble in paint: Do you have two-and-a-half hours to spare? If you’re looking for an activity that lets you regain some tranquillity and revisit childhood, Tasmai’s watercolour workshops may be your cup of tea. Artist S. R. Venkatesan will guide participants in experimenting with watercolours. You can choose from still life, landscapes and portraits. Materials will be provided at a cost of Rs. 500. For other fees and details, contact 0413-2221052 . This Sunday, at 6 p.m. the gallery at Kuruchikuppam will also screen three art documentaries onBenodebehari Mukherjee, Inner Eye directed by Satyajit Ray, and Ramkinkar Baij directed by Debabrata Roy.
Mix dance with martial arts:
If you want to begin your weekend with a punch, La Casita, the centre for Latin culture and arts on Eswaran Koil Street, has excitement timed at 7 p.m. on Fridays. A potpourri of dance, acrobatics and martial skills with music from Brazil, Capoeira sessions promise a heady mix. Taught by Ginga Saroba from Samuka da India.Call 7639405194 for details.
Make the beach a better place: With World Environment Day and Ocean Day celebrated in June, here’s a chance to do give back to the earth and environment. Don a pair of gloves, get armed with garbage gabs and help to clear away litter along Pondy’s pristine beaches. Participate in the Pondicherry Coastal Cleanup on Sunday morning, between 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hosted by the Chennai Trekking Club, the event aspires to collect more than five tons of garbage from along three kms of beaches around Pondy with volunteers, including students, corporate and NGOs. Collected garbage will be segregated and recycled. Areas I the clean-up include Promenade beach, Serenity beach and Kalapet beach.
