Cultural programmes added colour to the 72nd Independence Day celebrations at the Indira Gandhi stadium in Uppalam on Wednesday.
The programme began with the students of Sekkizhar Government High School in Thattanchavady presenting a dance performance.
This was followed by a dance performance by students of Government Higher Secondary School in Karayamputhur. A large number of folk artistes, representing native art forms of various States was the cynosure of all eyes at the event.
Three-day fest
Earlier, Fete-de-Puducherry, the annual three-day cultural festival organised by the Department of Art and Culture, in association with the South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur, got off to an eventful start at Gandhi Thidal here, on Tuesday.
Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy inaugurated the festival, by beating a large percussionist instrument.
The audience at the open air auditorium in Gandhi Thidal were enthralled by the multifaceted cultural features and folk dance performances by artistes from across the country.
The festival, with a special emphasis on traditional folk arts, started with a recital by Pon Shanmugam, followed by Dhol Cholam, a drum dance by artistes from Manipur.
Dandiya Raas, the famous traditional folk art of Gujarat, was also performed during the festival.
As many as 180 artistes from Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Tripura and 120 from Puducherry would perform various art forms during the three-day event at Gandhi Thidal, Murungapakkam, Villianur, Kirumampakkam and Nettapakkam.
Traditional folk arts along with popular art forms such as Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Odisi, Bhangra, Oppana, Therukoothu, Silambattam, Karagattam and Bommalattam will be part of the event.
Troupes from various States, would also present programmes in the urban and rural areas during the three days.
Celebrating liberation
The Puducherry Government has been holding the festival since 1985, as part of the Independence Day celebrations and to mark the Liberation Day of Puducherry, on August 16.
The Union Territory, in a referendum in October 1954, had favoured the liberation of Puducherry and its constitutent regions from the French regime, paving way for the merger of Puducherry with the Indian Union. The de facto merger took place in 1954, followed by de jure transfer of power on August 16, 1962.
