Pondicherry

On the chaotic day of New Years, millions of families flood to the beach to celebrate the forth coming year. Everyone enjoys themselves by eating street food, enjoying the view and having a family outing. Thousands of unique objects are being sold on the beach including shells, jewelry, bags, toys, fans, food, decorations, handicrafts and statues.

Pondicherry during the late 17th century was annexed by the French East India Company. Many of the towns on the West coast of India were used as trading ports by Colonial Powers such as Britain, Spain, Portugal and France. Even till today, there are groups of French citizens who live in certain parts of India and speak French.

Street food is an important part of India's culture. Street food is convenient and cheap, found roadside. Common street food includes sugarcane juice, grilled vegetables and peanuts, corn, bhel (mixture of onions, tomatoes, yogurt, garbanzo beans and sev), pani puri (toasted spheres filled with tamarind water and garbanzo beans) and vada pav (fried bread filled with a potato patty and spices). As seen above, self-employed vendors push their carts on the beach, busy on New Year’s Day.

A group of an extended family of Muslims eagerly waits for the New Year's celebrations.

These Nomadic gypsy women make a living by selling trinkets, jewelry and strung beads.

Services such as Astrology are also offered on the streets if you are curious about your future. The parrot will pick the card of its choice for you.

Picture of the "Matrimandir" in Auroville, a place close to Pondicherry. People from all over the worlds come and stay in Auroville.