Pitanga

Behind its sedate, quietly welcoming exterior, Pitanga hums with energising activity six days a week. Whether it is an art/photo exhibition adorning its sunlit, inner courtyard, or an innovative dance or yoga class taught by an experienced professional, or an evening solo performance by a visiting musician, Pitanga attracts Aurovilians and guests irrespective of age or cultural background. Besides offering a range of group physical activities like Balkan Dancing, Tai Chi, Body Awareness, and Aerobics, that are fun to do and good for one's general well-being, the place actively promotes holistic health services like relaxation massage, reflexology, homeopathy, and acupuncture. Other facilities in this centrally located community complex include a video and music library.

How it all began

Initially envisaged as a place wholly dedicated to dance and various forms of body awareness, Pitanga was brought into being in 1991 in the then budding Samasti settlement with the help of Dutch hatha yoga teacher, then newcomer Nolly, and two Brazilian Aurovilians Ila and Paulo, themselves professional dancers. The latter two named the upcoming centre after a sweet-smelling flowering bush native to South America. Still blooming in the building's vicinity, the Pitanga bush, symbolic of peace and harmony, has seen the place grow into a full-fledged multipurpose centre in Auroville's residential zone that continues to offer a popular mix of health enhancing programmes and services drawn from various eastern and western systems of knowledge. A focal point within Auroville's social and cultural life, Pitanga reflects the vigourous plurality inherent in the Aurovilian community and also its respect and encouragement for the underlying unity of human endeavour in diverse fields.

Activities

Yoga and dance classes are regularly held in Pitanga's large, well-equipped rooms. The spacious multipurpose hall with its gleaming wooden floor and seating capacity of about 100-150 people is used not only for larger group events (hatha yoga or dance, for example) but also for Indian classical or western musical performances by Aurovilian artists. Recent times have seen a steady rise in trained musicians from abroad sharing their contemporary artistic skills via demonstrative workshops with the community. Two massage rooms, a homeopathic dispensary, a music and video library, along with the compact dressing rooms further augment the well-structured and aesthetic use of space within Pitanga.

Social and cultural centre

Over recent years, cultural events like music, dance, theatre have become a more integrated part of Auroville's cultural life. Artists seeking newer ways of expressing their inner dimension need suitable forums in order for their art to be communicated. By providing the necessary means in terms of space and equipment, and creating a conducive environment for the mutual exchange of energies for artists, performers and participants, Pitanga continues to draw the community's appreciation and support.

Centrally located in Samasti, Pitanga is open from Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Most of the activities offered at Pitanga are open to guests and visitors. Schedules and descriptions of events and classes are available at the reception of the place, or can be requested from pitanga@auroville.org.in