Nanganallur Eastern Sector Welfare Association is doing yeoman service to improve he living condition of the people here. The executive members are workaholics who are striving to make this area a Paradise on earth.

We needed a stress buster and I thought it's apt to take our people to some places of interest and worship just to spend the day happily beamed Sridhar the brain behind the one day holy trip. He started working on the trip and decided to take the members to places which are of close proximity to Chennai. Thus after finalizing the places he sent out circulars and to his astonishment each and every one were willing join the trip. Thus Pondicherry and its environs were identified.

Thus preparations were in full wing and on the appointed day members assembled at one spot oozing with enthusiasm and joyful vigor. We charged Rs 300 per couple for the trip which included breakfast and lunch stated Sridhar. It is a very low amount and the rest of the money was borne by the association declared one of the members.

The members are an eclectic mixture of people and it resembled a geriatric ward of Nanganallur opined Natarajan who happily boarded the bus with wife Saroja.

We were transported to our youth as we recollected our excursion at school remarked Lalitha.

Their quest for joy and spirituality began at 6am. They reached Pondicherry and drove straight away to Manakula Vinayagar temple. The famed Annai Ashram beckoned them with fragrant flowers. The sweet smelling flower was redolent in the atmosphere. They sat there meditating for some time. Their next halt was Murattanti a new spiritual spot dedicated to the Navagrahas. The towering icon of Saturn greeted them and he was facing Lord Ganesha. The intermingling of Nature and spirituality is at its best here declared Madhu who enjoyed the trip.

Since it was time for lunch they halted at Thiruvakkarai after worshipping Kali they had lunch.

They invoked the blessing of Kali and proceeded towards Thennangur. Situated in an idyllic surrounding Thennangur is the seat of Pandurangan and his consort Rukmayee. I was taken aback by its divine ambience stated Srini who was awe struck to see the mesmeric icons of the God and Goddess.

The Srinivasa Varadar temple at Uthiramerur which is repository of architecture made the history buffs explore the splendor of the temple. The Mahalakshmi temple at Besant Nagar is modeled on this temple declared the priest. The members went around with gusto and childlike enthusiasm which is infectious. They returned as scheduled at half past 9 pm. Subramaniam,Ramani, Narayanan, Rajagopal, Padmanabhan,Sudhakar and Srnivasa rao were the pillars of support during the tour. We look forward for more such trips smiled Vasudha who thoroughly enjoyed their day out.

Usharaja