Namaskar, Vanakam &  a warm welcome to SBV podcast . Good morning to one and all. 
I am Dr. Sanchayita Roy, from  Indira Gandhi institute of dental sciences, Pondicherry . I am a PG studen in the prosthodontic department of the same college. You all might be wondering why am I speaking in Bengali. The reason is that  Bengali is my mother tongue. I was born and brought up in Assam. Hence I am a Bengali speaking assamese. 
Assam is in that part of india were we find f people  of diverse s language, culture and unique tradition. Growing up in Assam, since childhood, I have been surrounded with “boro” & “assamese” culture. Hence, I equally enjoy “Bihu”, “Kherai puja” & “Durga puja”. 
 During my Higher secondary in Miles Bronson’s Residential school in Guwahati I came across many northeastern tribes communiity, language, dialect and made friends with students from the 7 sister states of northeast. Studying under graduation in Lucknow, I have witnessed the Nawabi style of the state. The colourfull Holi and the bright Diwali is  the Hallmark of North Indian culture Post graduation has brought me to the beautiful French Colony of Pondicherry.

 Although, unlike Northern India, Holi has no color and Diwali has few lights and crackers,   “Pongal”  has  the same “Bhogali Bihu”  fragrance in the air. .  Bengal’s festival of “Durga puja” and Lucknow’s “Dusshera” have changed to “Ida Puja” or “Saraswati puja” in Southern India.

The “Idli” and “Puttu” reminds me of “Tekli pitha” and “ Hukan pitha” (authentic Assamese cuisine, made of powder of “Bora chaul”, a variety of rice endemic to Assam). The most relished “Curd rice” or “Tayer sadam” here takes me to the much relished “Doi chira” (flat rice +Curd+ sugar) back in my hometown.The plain and dry “white rice” I have been eating since childhood , now dressed itself in several colorful varieties - lemon rice, tomato rice, mint rice, turmeric rice , curd rice etc.

Bride and the Groom squads, Listen up! We got to hurry up getting dressed because marriage is an early morning affair here.  Similar to Mom’s banarasi saree, Masima’s (aunty) “ Muga silk Mekhela Chador”  the bride here is dressed in the beautiful “ Kanchevaran silk”  saree.   The bride’s “Sola  Mukut” have  transformed into the braided flower garland of  sweet and fragrant “malipu” (jasmine flower) . All these do beautiy the bride in its own way.

Diwali’s “Rangoli” and lakmi puja’s “Alpona” is now in the form of “Kolum” residing in the front porch of every house. 
Change in terms of language is drastic in nature and some words in Tamil totally contradicted Bengali which I knew so far. For instance, “Naak” meaning “Nose” till now to me is “Tongue” in Tamil. Also “Kaan”, I know meaning “Ear” now it’s called “Eyes”.But I enjoy it. 
The simple, humble and the welcoming gesture of the people is indeed a delight to the soul.
TheIndian traditional culture  of  “Athithi devo bhavo” is vibrantly prevalent here. As a student staying miles away from home isn’t an easy task at all. With the welcoming gesture of the colleagues and teachers even an outside state “Bidesh” seems to be  own state“Swadesh”.

Although there isn’t as many hills and mountains as in Assam, there are sea beaches surrounding the French colonial city of Puducherry and it has  Rishi aurobindo ashram and auroville- which is the centre for world peace. 

Although has different states, culture, religions, castes and languages, India is a secular democratic country having the same  Indian soul  and Indian-ness.  Just like the sun rises in the east in every corner of globe, we are Indians in every corner- east, west , north & south and children of  same  mother India.  Since the days of civilization- the Aryans & the Dravidians both constitute one India and this essence of Indian-ness is eternal. We are   proud to be  Indians
Independence day celebration is just few days away and at this auspicious moment, I would like to quote Rabindranath  Tagore , “ei bharoter mahamanover sagor tire eshohe Arjo , esho Anarjo, Hindu , Musalman” 
Lastly , I would like to wish u all a very happy 73rd independence day.
Dhanyobad, nandri and thankyou 
Jai Hind!.