Pondicherry or Puducherry is an urban agglomeration the Indian Union territory of Puducherry. It is affectionately known as Pondy, and has been officially known by the alternative name Puducherry since 2006. The area was part of the Pallava Kingdom of Kanchipuram in the 4th century. The Cholas of Thanjavur held it from the 10th to 13th centuries, only to be replaced by the Pandya Kingdom in the 13th century. The French acquired Puducherry in 1674 and held control, with occasional interruption from the British and Dutch, until 1962, when it was incorporated into the Indian Union. Pondicherry is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South India. The city has many beautiful colonial buildings, churches, temples, and statues which, combined with the systematic town planning and the well planned French style avenues, still preserve much of the colonial ambiance. Pondicherry is also a popular weekend destination. It is a blend of spiritual aura, French colonial heritage, Tamil culture, virgin beaches and the cosmopolitan flair of many nationalities in a small but varied city. The Aayi Mandapam (Park Monument) is a famous monument which lies at the center of the Bharati Park. It is a white monument built during the time of Napoleon III, Emperor of the France. The monument commemorates the provision of water to the French city during his reign. It was named after a lady courtesan called Ayi. She destroyed her own house to erect a water reservoir to supply water for the city. The cancellation depicts The Aayi Mandapam (Park Monument). |
A permanent pictorial cancellation was introduced at Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Puducherry on 15th August 2013, to mark the birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo. The design of the cancellation is based on the symbols of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. The design was similar to the one used in postage stamp on Sri Aurobindo released on August 15, 1964.
Meaning of Symbol of Sri Aurobindo: The descending triangle represents Sat-Chit-Ananda. The ascending triangle represents the aspiring answer from matter under the form of life, light and love. The junction of both - the central square - is the perfect manifestation having at its centre the Avatar of the Supreme - the lotus. The water - inside the square - represents the multiplicity, the creation.
Meaning of Symbol of The mother: The central circle represents the Divine Consciousness. The four petals represent the four powers of the Mother. The twelve petals represent the twelve powers of the Mother manifested for Her work. |
