Aurobindo’s room opened, ashram sees huge footfalls

Puducherry: The room of revolutionary-turned-saint-philosopher Sri Aurobindo in the Puducherry ashram was opened for public view on Thursday to mark his 147th birth anniversary. Followers of Aurobindo and his spiritual collaborator Mira Alfassa, fondly called ‘Mother’, thronged the ashram premises.
The ashram trust made elaborate arrangements to manage the crowd, that reached the ashram before dawn.
Sri Aurobindo after retiring from daily contact with his followers, saw them only a few times a year. These days were later known as darshan days. On these occasions, Sri Aurobindo and the Mother sat together in a small room, while the followers approached them one by one and offered flowers. After Sri Aurobindo passed away on December 5, 1950, the Mother continued to give darshan to the followers on these days till her death on November 17, 1973.
Apart from August 15, Sri Aurobindo’s room will be opened on February 21 (Mother’s birth anniversary), on April 24 (Mother’s final arrival), on November 24 (the day of victory) and on December 5 (his death anniversary). The Mother’s room is opened for followers only twice a year – on February 21 (her birth anniversary), and on November 17 (her death anniversary).