A Weekend at Aura Pottery

So I headed off to an unknown little village in Mohali last weekend, to break away from the madness that is city life. The volvo made it’s way towards Chandigarh and I kept looking through the window as the sky turned a brilliant shade of blue. Just a few hours from Delhi, the air becomes cleaner and the lungs become happier. I dozed off a couple of times, thanks to the butter laden paraths, and dreamt of waking up in a lush green farm surrounded by all things ceramic at Aura Pottery.

The journey was mostly an uneventful one, though the destination kind of made up for it. Just a few kilometers from Chandigarh, Aura Pottery is nestled between huge farms and fruit orchards, making it a perfect getaway from city life. It is an innovative and one of a kind pottery retreat targeted at an audience looking for art retreats. Those who know me know very well that I can never say No to ceramics, so I couldn’t say no to such an interesting invite. A couple of years back I spent a day and all my money at Khurja, which is known for its blue pottery. And this invite to Aura Pottery gave me much to look forward to.

As I reached, I was greeted by a bunch of welcoming strangers who were in the middle of a pottery session. They were painting these tiles which were already glazed, to check the final outcomes of specific colors on them. The whole process sounded like quite a task, but the smiling faces made it feel like an easy job to do, which I know isn’t really true.

I explored around the studio and felt it did seem to have a nice character to it, with wall-art on every nook an corner. I loved spending time here, talking to the Studio Manager, Raksha.

Soon, lunch was served and the homely flavors matched perfectly with the vibe of Aura Pottery. Packed lunches reminded me of picnics we used to have as kids. My mind wandered to a faraway land, time and distance notwithstanding. I realized picnic lunches were much more fun as kids, when just the excitement of sharing a meal with your friends could make your day.

After a hearty lunch, I retired to my room for a short afternoon nap which seems like a luxury now a days. The room was basic but the patch of greens outside was lovely. I could spot many a birds chirping and could hear sounds of peacocks in distance, maybe getting excited, anticipating rain.

The rain didn’t happen, but a beautiful evening came by, embracing the sun which soon got lost somewhere. I walked around, happy to be surrounded by so many trees; the nature lover in me couldn’t have asked for more.

As the evening gave way to a starry night, birds gave way to fireflies floating around. I tried to catch them, again remembering simpler times when being a kid was so much fun. A long conversation brewed along, that took us to faraway lands, high mountains and serene sea shores. As relaxed as this trip was, without the pressure of checking off a to-do list, it also gave me ample time to think.

I couldn’t indulge in pottery lessons though and I blame it to the lack of time. But, being around all things art-sy was good enough for my soul, reminding me to pick up the paint and brush again, to plan a trip to Madhubani, and to re-open the doors of a colorful world that I have left behind.

To know more about Aura Pottery, you can visit their website. They organize weekend as well as long stay pottery retreats, where you can indulge in the process of making ceramics, enjoying the experience of creating something from scratch under the watchful eyes of a meticulous studio manager.