March 29 is usually not marked as a darshan day in Sri Aurobindo Ashram, this year it saw hundreds of devotees and followers of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo thronging the Ashram to commemorate a momentous occasion, the centenary of The Mother’s first arrival in Puducherry.
Though Mirra Alfassa returned home after her first arrival in Pondicherry in 1914, and came back to settle here permanently only in 1920, the first arrival holds special significance for her admirers.
The centenary of the Mother’s first arrival in Pondicherry is also the centenary of her first meeting with Sri Aurobindo.
Apart from participating in meditations around the Samadhi at the Ashram, visitors queued up to visit the Mother’s room that was thrown open on the occasion.
Various cultural and spiritual activities are also being arranged to celebrate the occasion.
Rail sojournThe railway station was the centre of celebrations arranged by the World Peace Trust of Pondicherry and the Bangavani Trust of Nabadwip Dham West Bengal.
“It is because the Mother arrived at Pondicherry Railway station on the morning of March 29, 1914,” according to Dibyendu Goswami, convener of the Trust.
Photographs of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo would be exhibited at INTACH, Rue Aurobindo and cultural programmes would be held from 5pm to 7.30pm, every evening.
Special cancellationThe Department of Posts offered a special cancellation to commemorate the occasion. Mervin Alexander, postmaster general, Chennai, released the special cancellation at the post office connected to Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The special cancellation can be availed on any mail posted at the Ashram post office for two months, on request.
