Media Release
Mangaluru, Sep 10: ÉCLAT – Une Fête Française 2026, a vibrant celebration of French language, culture, creativity and talent, was held at St Aloysius Pre-University College, Mangaluru. The event brought together students from schools, pre-university colleges and degree colleges, providing them with a common platform to explore French culture and showcase their talents through fashion, music, theatre, art, culinary creativity and enterprise.
The day-long fest offered students a broader cultural engagement with French by combining language learning with creative expression through a variety of competitions and student-led activities. The emphasis was not merely on linguistic proficiency but on using language to explore another culture, collaborate with peers and develop skills beyond the curriculum.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by principal Fr Clifford Sequeira SJ; chief guest Rayan Joseph D’Souza, manager – Market and data analytics, Aptar Beauty, Paris; deans Kiran Shetty and Inas Das; and staff convenors Mark Pereira and Shane Pereira.
Drawing oin his experience of living and working in France, D’Souza highlighted the opportunities that learning a foreign language and gaining international exposure can offer young people. He drew attention to the presence of French-derived words in everyday English, highlighting the historical and linguistic connections between the two languages.
He encouraged students to look beyond their immediate surroundings and engage with different cultures and experiences. Learning a foreign language, he observed, could broaden their understanding of the world and open doors to opportunities beyond familiar environments.
Fr Clifford Sequeira SJ emphasised the cultural dimension of language learning, observing that language carries the history and culture of a people, reflects their worldview and builds bridges between communities. Referring to the global significance of French, he noted that learning another language could broaden students’ perspectives and deepen their appreciation of cultural diversity.
With technology and artificial intelligence rapidly reshaping the nature of work, the principal urged students to remain committed to continuous learning. He stressed the importance of developing an entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to work as a team. He also reminded the participants that the value of such events lay not only in winning prizes but also in the experiences, friendships and memories gained through participation.
The competitions were designed to take students beyond conventional language exercises. The Fashion Show and L’Art Couture brought together design, creativity and presentation, while Éclat de Voix – singing competition enabled participants to engage with French through music. Bal Masqué and Mr & Miss Éclat focused on presentation and performance, while Renaissance d’Art provided a platform for visual creativity.
Pâtisserie en Fête – Bento Cake Decoration added a culinary dimension to the fest by combining artistic presentation with creativity. En Scène – Musical theatre brought together language, acting, music, stagecraft and teamwork.
The wide range of competitions enabled students with varied interests and abilities to participate. While some took the stage, others expressed themselves through fashion, design, visual art or culinary presentation. The activities encouraged participants to plan, rehearse, coordinate responsibilities and work together towards a common goal.
Student-run stalls added an entrepreneurial dimension to the event. Students displayed handmade products, while the centre for social concern set up food stalls. The initiative provided valuable experience in planning, presentation and interaction with visitors while linking creativity and enterprise with social engagement.
The concluding session featured the felicitation of winners and participants in the various events, recognising their creativity, enthusiasm and involvement throughout the fest.
By placing French within the contexts of art, music, performance, enterprise and social interaction, ÉCLAT offered an enriching model of language learning beyond examinations and classroom proficiency. It demonstrated how language can serve as a gateway to cultural understanding.
The fest provided students with an opportunity to encounter a culture beyond their own and respond to it creatively. In doing so, ÉCLAT fostered not only linguistic ability but also curiosity, confidence, collaboration and openness to the wider world.