A short drive from Pondicherry by taxi brought us in to the Auroville community of Sadanah forest. This project was started by Aviram an ex-entrepreneur who was looking for happiness, a healthy lifestyle and security for himself and his children. The aim of the project is reforestation and water conservation. The land was initially barren and infertile, but after 8 years it has been transformed into a flourishing forest. The project is entirely vegan and uses everything from organic hand soap right down to composting toilets. Aviram's philosophy is that as many volunteers as they can accommodate are allowed to stay at Sadanah. The daily routine is: wake up at 5.30 in the morning, morning circle (singing songs and hugging to wake everyone up from their walking dead, zombie like state), after this first work begins which could be anything from watering to hygiene (more commonly known as shit stirring). This lasts for 2 hours. At 8.30 everyone is well and truly ready for breakfast which is usually fresh papaya, pineapple, pomegranate, sweet lime and some sort of porridge with Jaggery (cane sugar). After breakfast second work begins which is much more cumbersome work and is mostly physical labour such as firewood cutting, tree pruning/planting, composting or some sort of garden work. It is actually quite nice to have something physical to do at this part of the day and it really makes you feel good and ready for lunch. After lunch everyone is free for the afternoon to do whatever they wish. There are a number of workshops held by volunteers such as yoga, non-violent communication, origami, meditation and capoeira.
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