53rd International Cultural Festival

Saurabh Sengupta, the Director of La Plume Française, was invited  to the 53rd Cultural Event in Fort de France, Martinique as an Interpreter of French. The Indian group for the Cultural Event included a Chef, a Fashion Designer, a Writer, Puppeteers, Musicians and Classical Dancers. Teaming up with professionals from across India, Saurabh Sengupta headed to the City of Lights, Paris! In Paris, he had the beautiful opportunity to intereact with French people and explore the enchanting city. What makes any trip to France more memorable is the amazing French and the mind-boggling varieties of Cheese! Having tried some of the finest cheese and cuisine, it was time to head to the Eiffel Tower!

It was the eve of the Bastille Day, the perfect time to visit the Eiffel Tower!

The streets were lighted, and glowed in splendor as the civilians indulged in merrymaking. The beauty of La Dame de Fer mesmerized the spectators and the chilly breeze aroused the excitement. As the clock struck midnight, the Eiffel Tower was clothed in shimmering lights to the joy and the cheers of the visitors. Everyone wished each other a "Joyeux 14 Juillet" and continued to enjoy the evening in the company of the gorgeous Eiffel Tower, draped in the finest of lights! The French-culture loving Director of LPF did not miss the chance to visit other major monuments including l'Arc de Triomphe, Sacré Cœur, Notre Dame de Paris and Les Invalides. His interactions with the French people at Les Champs-Elysées brought him a lot of insights on the current situation in France!

After a satisfying stay in France, the team headed to Martinique, a Département Outre Mer of France. The cultural Fest was to take place in Fort de France.

During the Cultural Festival, Saurabh Sengupta and the Indian Chef, Aditya Vaidya, conducted a workshop on Indian Cuisine at the atelier of Nathanaël Ducteuil, for the interested participants. Two such workshops were conducted in which the participants actively participated and learnt some of the well-known cuisines of India. All the participating students highly appreciated the workshop. Saurabh Sengupta helped bridge the language gap between the participants and the Chef. Sunil Sengupta, the co-director of La Plume Francaise, played a significant role in Saurabh Sengupta's preparation for the event. Having an exceptional knowledge of the French cuisine and the French vocabulary used in this domain, Sunil Sengupta trained Saurabh Sengupta to handle the workshops and the challenges that arise during such events!

The two workshops ended on a high note and then it was time to discover the beautiful Martinique ! The lush greenery of Martinique and the seducing need were soul-healing. Martinique is well known to be a tourist's delight and it did not fail to live up to its expectations. The succulent specialities made one ask for more.

The main event "Nuit de l'Inde" took place on the 21st of July. The event was themed around the Indian culture and attached a lot of French and Martinican crowd. It comprised of a Puppet Show, a Classical Dance programme, Classical Music, a Fashion Show, and all of them were accompanied by a fusion of Indian and Martinican Cuisine. The event was welcomed with a lot of fervour and enthusiasm. Indian culture was at the centre stage! After representing India at the global stage, the Indian team returned to Paris. It was time to celebrate the success of the event!

Saurabh Sengupta took the opportunity to try the finest Champagnes and Wines of France. As the saying goes, if you haven't tried the French Wines, you're missing out on a lot!

The team triumphantly returned to India, accompanied by the rich memories of a memorable stay and an experience of a lifetime!