• Follow
   

Pondicherry- Then and now

Submited by- ruchii.kumar on 08 Jan, 2010    Lifestyle

Rate It
  Avg. Rating (0/5)547 Reads
Be the first one to Like this post Like It (0)

As a week-end get away for the Chennai folks, Pondicherry had always been an ideal spot years before the East coast Road was even conceived . To some it was the lure of unlimited booze and for others the distinct French aura of this coastal town with its cobbled streets and outlandish street names. Almost synonymous with Pondicherry is the Aurobindo Ashram casting its benign shade over the town and surrounding precincts. A visit to the Ashram is never complete without a wholesome meal at the spartan dining room mainly to savour the freshly baked bread! We were informed that Mother had brought chefs from France to teach the cooks at the ashram to bake their aromatic bread and it is a fact that even today one can have all the three meals for a princely sum of 20 Rs!
The cyclists winding their way, in and out of the streets are tourist friendly and ready with helpful directions. The passage of time has not touched the soul of Pondicherry. The array of luxurious hotels and restaurants signifies an era of change . Antique shops , health food stores stand cheek by jowl with the Ashrams old world outlets, giving a fair idea of what life could have been in the fifties and sixties . The beach and the pier continue to exist despite the ravages of tsunami and times insidious progress. Billboards entice the blas visitor with attractions they normally seek when on vacation ayurvedic massage and spa, boutiques offering bountiful discounts and restaurants advertising home-cooked meals just the thing for tired palates. The avante-garde atmosphere of some of the villas at Auroville intensifies the sense of other worldliness . A guest house we visited had Dalai Lama once as a guest we were informed quite casually! The avocado orchards leading to matri mandir give an illusion of utopia of community life, as conceived by the ashram elders.
The quality of life here is different we are told , not just by the Ashramites but by people who have opted to make this city their home. Never mind the crowds, mosquitoes, open drains and lack of parking,they tell us , just look beyond and there is a source of energy which is peculiar to this place. You confront it at Aurobindos Samadhi, and it remains with you for along time afterwards.
An early inhabitant of the Ashram , spoke of the inner opening of self that was possible only at the Ashram . Id like to stretch the phrase a little more: it is possible that the inner self becomes rejuvenated by the sense of peace which pervades the air!

Be the first one to Like this post Like It (0)
Share your thoughts Share your thoughts

POLL

Which color best defines summer outfits?

Which color best defines summer outfits?
 White67% | 44 votes
 Sea green13% | 9 votes
 Pink4% | 3 votes
 Sky blue13% | 9 votes
Total Votes: 65
View all Polls

Most Active Members

7.jpg
Raj22879 26 points
Belgaum | India
Joined: 24 May, 2013 26 points gained today
rajeshranjan 121 points
Delhi | India
Joined: 09 Jul, 2012 13 points gained today
Priya 160 points
Bhopal | India
Joined: 16 Jul, 2012 11 points gained today
2.jpg
alexander479 10 points
Delhi | India
Joined: 26 Dec, 2012 10 points gained today
1.jpg
Anshita 8 points
Bangalore | India
Joined: 24 May, 2013 8 points gained today

Recent Activity on SitaGita

rajeshranjan commented on article
Boost Yourself With Iron Rich Fruits
(1 Hour ago) Gains 3 points
Rahul61 likes a forum post
Gujarati Poems on India
(1 Hour ago) Gains 1 point
Priya replied to the forum thread
Re: How to learn coding from scratch...
(2 Hours ago) Gains 5 points
Priya likes a forum post
Re:How to learn coding from scratch?
(2 Hours ago) Gains 1 point
rajeshranjan replied to the forum thread
Re: How to learn coding from scratch...
(2 Hours ago) Gains 5 points

Let's Connect @ sitagita

X

Sign up for our newsletter to get latest updates from the most vibrant Indian women community. Subscribe now to get started