The people of Pondicherry wear traditional Indian dresses. Men wear pants and shirts. Women prefer wearing saris, long skirts and blouses. People do not wear beach wear in the city as such dresses will invite unwanted attention. Nudity is banned in Puducherry. There are the presence of Christians,Hindus and Muslims in the territory. All the people of different religions live in harmony here. Puducherry has the presence of a number of temples deicated to Lord Sulramaniar and various forms of ammans viz, Muthumariammam, Angalamman, etc.
The festivals celebrated here are:
Fire Walking: The people who participate in this festival has to observe a fast of forty days and wear saffron colored clothes and after bath, walk through the fire.
Sedal: During this festival the devotees torture themselves by piercing 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 bath and clad themselves in turmeric strained clothes.
Mascarade Festival: Mascarade or Mask festival is celebrated during March-April. This festival reflects the French sense of humor, the people wear fantastic mask and fancy costumes and they go around the streets in joyous merriment indulging in a kind of gimmic dance to the accompaniment of trumpets.
International Yoga Festival: This festival is celebrated from 4th to 7th January every year. During this festival yogis and yognis from all over the world.
Mangani Festival: This festival is celebrated in July in Karaikal Ammayur temple.
Kandoori Festival: This is the festival of Karaikal Durga. The people celebrate this festival very sacredly.
The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes: This is celebrated by Christians in the Our Lady of Lourdes church.
St.Theresa FestivalThis is celebrated in October every year. Even non-Christians attend this festival.
Thiraiyattam: This is a festival, which is conducted at Bhagavathi temple. People celebrate the festival with dance and songs.
Masimagam Festival: This festival is celebrated on the early morning in the month of February-March. The devotees go to the seashore to have a holy dip in the sea for ablution of their sins.
Navratri: This is a nine-day festival of the Goddess Durga (warrior righteousness), Lakshmi (prosperity) and Saraswati (knowledge and the arts).
Ayudha Puja: This festival marks the end of Navaratri. All forms of implements and equipments, including cars and motorcycles are given Puja. No work is done that day.
Vijayadasami: The next day to Ayudha Puja is given over to the Goddess Durga, who is the warrior aspect of the Divine Mother.
Diwali: This is celebrated between mid-October and mid-November. This festival marks the triumph of Good over Evil.
Karthigai Deepam Festival: During this three day festival mostly all the Hindu houses are illuminated.
Pongal: This festival is celebrated for four days. It is celebrated from 13th to 16th January. During the festival of Pongal, houses are cleaned and are decorated with colorful patterns of "kolam". On the second day, i.e. on the bhogi day old clothes and mats are ritually burnt. Pongal is prepared in new mud pots. It is made with new rice, jaggery, sugar and raisins. On the third day of the festival, the herds of cattle are cleaned and decorated and they are also given Pongal. On the fourth day, people dress up colorfully and visit their friends and relatives. The festival of Pongal is a festive time for the people here and the parks and the streets are filled with people. All the people are engaged in merry making.
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, celebrates festivals similar to Kerala like Onam, Vishu, Sri Krishna Jayanti, Vinayaga Chathurthi etc.
