Indian Thanksgiving

AFTER THE TAJ AND NUMEROUS OVERNIGHT TRAIN RIDES WE DECIDED TO INDULGE IN A FLIGHT FROM DELHI TO CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU. WE HAPPENED TO FIND OUT THAT ONE OF OUR REDLANDS PALS WAS LIVING IN CHENNAI AND HE TOLD US TO COME CRASH AT HIS PLACE. WE SPENT A FEW DAYS CATCHING UP WITH ADAM AND HIS AWESOME GIRLFRIEND ANYA WHO ARE STUDYING TO BE MONTESSORI TEACHERS IN CHENNAI. WE DECIDED TO TAKE A COUPLE DAY TRIP DOWN TO AUROVILLE, A ECO COMMUNITY THAT ANOTHER FRIEND OF OURS HAD SPENT A COLLEGE SEMESTER, AND THEN COME BACK UP FOR THANKSGIVING. AUROVILLE IS A HUGE ECO VILLAGE LOCATED ABOUT THREE HOURS SOUTH OF CHENNAI. IT WAS INAUGURATED IN 1968 AND REPRESENTS 124 COUNTRIES AND 23 STATES IN INDIA.   THEIR PHILOSOPHY IS BASICALLY THIS: "THERE SHOULD BE SOMEWHERE ON EARTH, A PLACE WHICH NO NATION COULD CLAIM AS ITS OWN, WHERE ALL HUMAN BEINGS OF GOOD WILL WHO HAVE A SINCERE ASPIRATION COULD LIVE FREELY AS CITIZENS OF THE WORLD AND OBEY ONE SINGLE AUTHORITY, THAT OF THE SUPREME TRUTH; A PLACE OF PEACE, CONCORD AND HARMONY WHERE ALL THE FIGHTING INSTINCTS OF MAN WOULD BE USED EXCLUSIVELY TO CONQUER THE CAUSES OF HIS SUFFERING AND MISERIES, TO SURMOUNT HIS WEAKNESS AND IGNORANCE, TO TRIUMPH OVER HIS LIMITATIONS AND INCAPACITIES, A PLACE WHERE THE NEEDS OF THE SPIRIT AND THE CONCERN FOR PROGRESS WOULD TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THE SATISFACTION OF THE DESIRES AND PASSIONS, THE SEARCH FOR PLEASURE AND MATERIAL ENJOYMENT." WE STAYED AT THE AMERICAN PAVILLLION WITH SOME NICE PEOPLE WHO EXPLAINED TO US THE CONCEPT OF AUROVILLE AND THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE COMMUNITY.  WE ALSO VISITED PONDICHERRY, WHICH WAS A FRENCH COLONY AND RETAINS MUCH FRENCH INFLUENCE FOR A FEW DAYS.   THEN WE HEADED BACK TO CHENNAI FOR THANKSGIVING.

WE DID THANKSGIVING INDIAN STYLE, WITH NO TURKEY OR STUFFING, BUT WITH PLENTY OF FRIENDS, WINE, THANKSGIVING, AND OFCOURSE MASHED POTATOES. WE GREATLY ENJOYED COOKING ALL DAY AND STUFFED OUR SELVES SILLY, THEN DANCED ALL NIGHT UNTIL WE WERE READY TO EAT MORE.