Have you ever experienced deep longing for a place/places that calls you? You don't know the reason behind that intense desire, have never been to that place but feel as if you belong there and are so restless that you HAVE to visit that place. And when you do, you feel like you have arrived home! May be, that yearning is part of our spiritual journey or growth and sometimes it takes nomadic form literally and figuratively!
I have had this strange fascination for Pondicherry since I was in my teens. It started with me accompanying my cousin for Yoga class during summer vacation and my mother for lectures at Sri Arvind Ashram, Baroda. The serenity of the Ashram and beauty of its garden with abundant flowers used to be such allure! My mother, an avid reader, introduced me to the books from ashram and I gradually started getting interested albeit, struggling from time to time for understanding books that were far too "serious" for my age.
People close to me have known about my longing for Pondicherry and have also sometimes made fun of my obsession and wish to leave everything and settle in Pondicherry! Yeah, it has been one of the craziest yearnings I have had in my life!
After decades of waiting, my dream came true few days back when hubby decided to give a pleasant surprise by taking me there. The trip to Pondicherry was revelation!
There is something in the air of charming, quaint town of Pondicherry that seems like stuck in a time warp that inspires and awakens creativity! The charm of beautiful beaches, delectable food, bright yellow walls, arched gates with bougainvillea of stunningly picturesque French architecture heritage bungalows and cottages, that are confluence of different cultures, Pondicherry grows on you and the experience is surreal.
There are many things to explore in Pondicherry but I was keen to follow my heart and its calling so we spent all our time visiting Auroville and Sri Aurobindo Ashram; the abodes of spiritual experiences.
Auroville is a communion; a microcosm where there is no such thing as religion, race, caste and creed. The aim is to live in harmony. My wish to go for meditation at Matri Mandir remained unfulfilled due to lack of time but visit to exhibition and long walks to Matri Mandir was experience difficult to comprehend in words.
Spending time in complete silence at Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a spiritual community in the heart of French quarters, was divine experience! The amazing display of exotic flowers added to the pious aura of the place. The tranquility of the Ashram calmed all the neurosis and I returned blissful, deeply cleansed in body, mind and soul!
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| Outside a heritage bungalow in White town, Pondicherry |
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| A quintessential French architecture in White town, Pondicherry |
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| Children waiting for their performance of chanting from Vedas at Alliance française de Pondichéry |
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| Motto of Auroville |
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| Philosophy of work as "yoga" |
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| The Auroville symbol |
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| The beautiful paradise beach where one can see different hues of green and blue in waves! |
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| Matri Mandir, at Auroville |
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| The handicrafts shop at Aurovile |
