: Puducherry District Collector Satyendra Singh Dursawat and Consul General of France here Philippe Janvier Kamiyama were among those who paid homage at the statue of 'Soldat Inconnu' (Unknown Soldier) at the French government maintained War Memorial here on the celebration of the 227th French national Day today.
The day was also observed as Bastille Day.
Every year French nationals residing in Puducherry, a former French colony, celebrate the day with gaiety and zeal.
It was on this day in 1789 that Bastille prison in Paris was stormed, marking the outbreak of French Revolution. The movement was guided by the inspiring slogans of 'Liberty, Equality and Fraternity'.
Puducherry was a French colony for more than two centuries and became free in 1954 de facto.
Representatives of various associations of retired military and civil service personnel of French government also paid homage at the statue by placing wreaths.
All present at the venue observed silence for a couple of minutes.
