VERNON, FRANCE, January 28, 2020 (Actu Google translated from French): The Indian Association of Vernon (AIV) celebrated the traditional festival of Pongal last Saturday. With the smell of spices and jasmine, shimmering costumes and traditional songs, the village hall of the Boutardes de Vernon (Eure) was transported for an evening to the south of India thanks to the association AIV. “It [AIV] was created in 2002 explains its president Prakash Belmont. Today, it brings together fifteen Vernon families and five in the Paris region. The members are from Pondicherry, a French colony until 1957.”
Pongal is one of the most important festivals in Tamil Nadu state in India. The president explained, “The population thanks nature for the fruitful harvests it has allowed. The houses are decorated, new clothes are bought and the women prepare traditional dishes. The holiday spans three days–January 15 to 18 this year. To bring together a maximum of families, we have chosen to shift it. Especially since January 26, we celebrate Republic Day.” To introduce young people to Indian culture, the association also provides Tamil and dance lessons. “This allows us to keep the tradition alive, especially among the youngest. As adults, they are much more interested in their origins,” concludes Prakash Belmont.