Abstract
The pétanque is used here as a field to interrogate two aspects. Firstly, in a global context, how a cultural practice is modified. In Pondicherry, south of India, how this physical activity, which appeared after the French colonization, is integrated in indianization process? Secondly, that practice show us the links and exchanges that took part between French national of Tamil-Indian origin and Tamils-Indians people? One of the main questions is to understand how the postcolonial context influences their relations? Through the analysis of semi-directives interviews and the observation of the game pétanque for two years, this work shows how this activity represents a syncretism space in which cultural exchanges are realized. The pétanque appears as spaces where the different individuals with their cultural background are engaged in a symbolic compete. This global situation does not produce uniformity but cultural hybridization. Taking place in specific postcolonial context, the practice of pétanque allows expressing different socio-cultural identities between individuals of French and Indian nationality.