Sister Marie Stella at the Embroidery Private House, a Catholic mission that looks after underprivileged women by having them sew exquisite linens. Pondicherry, India.Pondicherry (now Puducherry) is a Union Territory of India and was a French territory until 1954 (legally on 16 August 1962). The French Quarter of the town retains a strong French influence in terms of architecture and culture.