Saris Saris and Saris at Puducherry and a couple of other views
I went nuts. Just the range of it was too
interesting and I went around reading up on each label. It was the Pothy’s
Store. One and a half floors are purely for sake of saris. Just the number of
saris would be at least ten lakhs (maybe much much more) or so considering the
overflowing counters.
We just don’t have this sort of a store for
saris or ladies suits anywhere up North, maybe a lesson for our entrepreneurs.
And the technical backbone to monitor and
organise the billing is swift and efficient. I was watching the process and the
speed. Gift cards are also used to keep customers loyal. Al sales are automatically
logged at the warehouse.
They have the range exceeding Rs 1 lakh a sari
too, in fact they have the range of Rs 20000/- to Rs 35000/-, then say Rs 50000
/- and do on. So it’s a display by type and range, maintained well. Saris are
there for Rs 500 /- or less even.
The types of saris and related material is too
much to absorb and to register on the brain and the counters are -
Banaras cotton, Mau Pattu wedding gift sari.
Blouses. Fancy ready made blouses. Silk cotton
blouses. Chudi material synthetic.
Elite silk. Fancy cotton. Butter silk. Mau
silk.
Coper brocade fancy silk. Bengal cotton
Mangalagari cotton
Surat fancy
Mumbai designer
Linen saris
Uniform saris
Handloom cotton saris
Chettinad
Kanchi
Pochampally
Andhra
Fancy
Kovai
Softy saris
Mysore silk
Kora muslin silks
Kolkatta designer
Pattola cotton
Pure chiffon
One lakh and above and other ranges
Pure satin silk
Jute saris
Uploads pure silk
Vasundhara light
Piping georgette
Pure chiffon
One lakh and above and other ranges
Pure satin silk
Jute saris
Uploads pure silk
Vasundhara light
Reception lehngas
One minute saris
Tassels counter
Kanchipuram traditional
Raw silk material
Kerala silk
Samudrika Pattu
Chander cotton
Emboss
Dry wash only
Organza
Gift Saris
Art silk saris
brocade saris
aari work tassels blouse stitching .
I do not know the sales figures and margins
but the staff could convey it is comfortable.
During sales in festivals
saris are thrown off shelves to rows six people deep. For all my curiosity over
a couple of days I got a discount card !!
At Madurai
Madurai has three
streets catering to just onions, garlic and ginger. The markets function around
the clock. Seeet corn too. Auctions take place regularly.
It also has its huge vegetable market. They make twelve types of oils too.
Passing through on vacation I realised why this city,,old yet commercial, is so
vibrant. It’s the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu.
The
Market place for Flowers at Madurai. Plus the building has a training centre
with NABARD also on the board. The market is huge, sweaty and focused on
jasmine flowers, lotus and some traditional flowers. It’s just not easy to push
your way in. They also sell oils made from ginger etc. Vibrant and bustling as
retailers bargain while looked at me, obviously not from here, walking around.
Language was a huge issue, as I could not elicit details. Auctions happen at
fixed times and packets are made for transportation.
Passing through on a pilgrimage just had to see
this. It’s famous for its jasmine flowers.
Auroville
I had to travel I
would say 2000 kilometres or more to realise my inner consciousness is quite
alive and kicking and does not need greenery to reactivate itself. At Auroville
I found a lot of English on Inner consciousness and awakening. Even the gardens
are supposed to awaken the inner consciousness and are connected with our
religion and Sanskrit. Evocative names are there connected with our cultural
heritage. I tried my best to focus and to connect with myself as they guide you
to it but what is it about really. But it’s just acres of greenery in an area
where you are supposed to be witnessing a revolution with a cashless society
and experiments on community organic agriculture and what not. Its an
idealistic world for which they are striving for and all are equal within it
and all are welcome from anywhere in the world. I gave up after a few hours.
Too much English and awakening and well just let it be. A lot of foreigners
from Europe are there specially from France and are hunting for inner peace and
their inner consciousness. And where do their children study I don’t know.
Maybe they like our warmer tropical climate also. Compliments to those who get
the message of this place. Yeah, the Mother had a vision and a quest and full
regards to that. And it earns us goodwill internationally.
At Aurobindo Ashram
The old French Township of Puducherry. With
roads named the French way and lanes and houses set in a framed grid line.
That is me standing in front of the Aurobindo
Ashram. No photographs allowed and three guys standing in line check your
phones to ensure it’s off.
The samadhi was simple, peaceful and
tastefully done. With flowers tastefully placed on it. Very serene. A couple of
foreigners or more were meditating. Holding on to their nostrils. What were
they gaining they only know. Others were praying and sitting in reverential
silence. It was certainly worth coming all the way to feel the vibes. Better
than Auroville.
But the staff, well the attitude is of being
on an elevated plane. Maybe they are! But are they!!
I purchased three books. Hopefully I will be
able to get through them as say around fifteen years back I could not do so. It
was complex and required a very focused mind. Even my Dad told me it’s not easy
to read, absorb and understand and then internalise.
There was a wonderful quote - rather a page
written by Aurobindo and placed at one door. On the clarity of the mind. And
the way to it. But then there was nobody to quietly interact and explain on how
to get a copy.
Just saying, if you are engaged in matters of
the mind, anywhere not just here, don’t feel it makes better than us. We of the
real world are the contributors and movers.,
The old French Township of Puducherry. With
roads named the French way and lanes and houses set in a framed grid line.
That is me standing in front of the Aurobindo
Ashram. No photographs allowed and three guys standing in line check your
phones to ensure it’s off.
The samadhi was simple, peaceful and
tastefully done. With flowers tastefully placed on it. Very serene. A couple of
foreigners or more were meditating. Holding on to their nostrils. What were
they gaining they only know. Others were praying and sitting in reverential
silence. It was certainly worth coming all the way to feel the vibes. Better
than Auroville.
But the staff, well the attitude is of being
on an elevated plane. Maybe they are! But are they!!
I purchased three books. Hopefully I will be
able to get through them as say around fifteen years back I could not do so. It
was complex and required a very focused mind. Even my Dad told me it’s not easy
to read, absorb and understand and then internalise.
There was a wonderful quote - rather a page
written by Aurobindo and placed at one door. On the clarity of the mind. And
the way to it. But then there was nobody to quietly interact and explain on how
to get a copy.
Just saying, if you are engaged in matters of
the mind, anywhere not just here, don’t feel it makes better than us. We of the
real world are the contributors and movers.,
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