What lies ahead: A couple enjoys the morning view of Paradise Beach
Under French rule till 1954, the Union Territory of Pondicherry (renamed Puducherry 10 years ago) is synonymous with Auroville, Creole cuisine and its French Quarter. People come here for a “spiritual break”, with a bit of meditation, voluntary service and even some healthy eating (courtesy the kitchen at Aurobindo Ashram) thrown in. The not-so-spiritually-inclined gravitate towards the sprawling bungalows in the French Quarter, sign up for cookery workshops, and dine at posh beachfront restaurants.
Away from the touristy circuit, Puducherry’s beaches are mostly frequented by locals. It doesn’t have the pull of Kerala or Tamil Nadu’s sandy stretches in terms of tourist footfall. Perhaps that’s what helps maintain their serenity.
During the wee hours — like in any other fishing harbour in the world — Puducherry’s beaches look lively. Once the men have ventured into the sea, calm and tranquillity return to the shore. As you sit by the sea through the day, you’ll find locals — students, officegoers, homemakers and newlyweds — trickle in for their quantum of solace.
Swastik Palis a Kolkata-based documentary photographer
Matters of faith: A cross adorns the dress of a young girl from a nearby fishing village
Calm and quiet: A local woman enjoys solitude in the morning hours at Serenity Beach
Finding feet: A fisherman catches a moment of rest before setting out to sea
Put to bed: An abandoned mattress, probably once owned by a fisherman’s family, lies near the old fishing harbour
Net worth: At the old fishing harbour, fresh catch wrapped and stored in cloth for the market the following day
Hit the deck: A playing card, used by fishermen to while away time, lies on the beach
Published on January 27, 2017
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.