Ananda by Chitra

02/09/2026

Today, my mother turns 78. ❤️

And on her birthday, I want to tell her, and perhaps the world, how much of what I have built carries a little bit of her within it.

From the very beginning of my life in Switzerland, and through the journey that eventually became Ananda, she was always there, quietly working behind the scenes from India. She sourced materials for my little boutique, searched for beautiful things, selected the shawls, and helped me bring a little piece of India into the world I was creating here.

And then there was the cooking.

Whatever I have cooked and shared over the years, she has somehow always been there too. She has been my guide, my reference, the person I still turn to today when I have a question, need an idea, or simply want to know, “Mummy, how would you make this?”

Continents may separate us, but technology has given us this beautiful little window into each other’s lives. We meet on our screens, I show her what I am doing, she advises me, corrects me, teaches me, and continues to inspire me.

But she is so much more than all of this.

She is my mother, my friend, my guide, my coach, sometimes my therapist, often my healer, and always an endless fountain of love. The person I know I can always return to.

At 78, her physical presence in my life is a gift I no longer take for granted. Today, more than anything, I simply want to say thank you. For everything she has taught me. For everything she has made possible. For everything she has given without ever keeping count. And above all, for still being here.

Mothers are rare and precious beings. If you are fortunate enough to still have yours in your life, cherish that gift.

Happy 78th birthday, Maa. ❤️

Today is your day, and I simply want the world to know how deeply grateful I am to be your daughter.



Photo credit: Kalai Ramu l Krushot Photography

30/08/2026

Today, coming home after a weekend away, I found myself craving a simple dish from my grandmother’s kitchen. The kind of food that somehow knows how to soften fatigue and comfort both body and mind.

As I cooked, memories began to surface. I could see my grandmother in her kitchen, preparing the same dish. And when its familiar aroma filled the room, for a moment, I was back there with her.

It amazes me how scent holds on to memory. A familiar aroma can quietly open a door to a time we thought we had forgotten.

And what surprised me most was how far back it took me to almost 40 years.

Perhaps, in the end, what makes a dish truly taste right is not only the perfect balance of spices or the way it is cooked. It is also the connection we carry with it, the memory, the feeling, and the love from which that taste was first born.

My Dadi here as I remember her ( paternal grandmother) whose simple soupy potato and tomato dish with cumin and asafetida with hint red chilli powder relished with plain steamed rice would fix any thing that needed fixing.

29/07/2026

💕Wedding Journal | Beginning with Blessings

Every sacred journey deserves a sacred beginning.

Before the wedding rituals, we gathered at the Gurukul in the Art of Living Ashram to invoke divine blessings for Prakriti and Luca as they embarked on their new life together.

A Gurukul is a traditional Vedic school where young students live, study the Vedas and train to become priests. Its simple bamboo and thatched huts, built in the spirit of ancient India, remind us that true learning flourishes in simplicity. Walking through its peaceful pathways, listening to the timeless rhythm of Sanskrit chants, one cannot help but feel transported to another age.

This sacred puja invoked the blessings of Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi and the Navagrahas (the nine planetary deities). Through the chanting of mantras, the sacred water in the brass pots was consecrated and later offered as blessings to the couple and everyone gathered—praying for wisdom, harmony, prosperity and the removal of obstacles on the path ahead.

These moments capture more than a ceremony. They reflect shared prayers, quiet meditation, joyful laughter, loving family participation and the profound peace that arises when a celebration begins with gratitude and devotion.

For us, there could have been no more meaningful way to begin this wedding journey.

25/07/2026

Here how it began…The family and friends from the Groom’s side had travelled from across Europe, many of them experiencing India, an ashram, and a Vedic wedding for the very first time. Welcoming them with flower petals and open hearts felt like the perfect way to begin. 4 days prior to the wedding day they all arrived together to make Ashram their home for 5 days.

We welcomed them with bell sounds and a super happy « Benvenuti » 🥰

Grandmothers and mothers meeting from both bride and the groom side. 💕

A warm hug and a namaste two cultures coming together with open hearts and smiles.

Imeria, Grandmaa of Luca at 87 years took this journey from Ticino (Switzerland )to be part of her grandsons big day. So so grateful for this gift of her presence.

20/07/2026

There are moments in a wedding that only a mother truly experiences.

A quiet moment before the music begins.

One last glance before letting your daughter step into a new chapter of her life.

It has been a week since Prakriti and Luca were married, and I’m still in India, carrying the joy, gratitude, and countless memories of those beautiful days.

Over the coming weeks, I’d love to share this journey with you—one story, one ritual, one emotion at a time.

29/04/2026

Tu n’es pas “mauvais·e pour te détendre.” Tu portes simplement trop — et personne ne t’a appris à poser ce poids.
Ce que vivent la plupart des 18–35 ans en ce moment :
→ Une anxiété qui ne lâche pas
→ Un sommeil qui n’est pas reposant
→ Un mental qui tourne en boucle
→ Une solitude même entouré·e de monde
Ce n’est pas une faiblesse. C’est le résultat d’un monde conçu pour t’épuiser.
Le cours SKY CAMPUS t’enseigne la respiration SKY — une technique pratiquée par 45 millions de personnes, validée par 100+ études, qui réduit le stress, améliore le sommeil et rebuilds ta résilience émotionnelle. Pour de vrai.
3 jours · 3h par jour · En ligne ou présentiel · Aucune expérience requise
Ce long week-end, tu as le temps. 3 heures par jour pendant 3 jours. Imagine les passer à te retrouver toi-même.
Si tu as entre 18 et 35 ans et que quelque chose en toi dit “oui” — cette porte est ouverte pour toi.
Le lien est dans ma bio.

28/04/2026

Eating the Ayurvedic way — kansa thali, bare hands, full heart.
In Ayurveda, eating with your hands isn’t just tradition, it’s medicine. Your fingers carry the five elements. When you touch your food, you activate prana (life force) before it even reaches your lips.
And kansa (bronze) thali? It naturally balances all three doshas and has been a part of Indian healing traditions for centuries. Bronze has an alkaline effect on food, it gently raises the pH, making the meal easier on your gut and better for digestion. Something our grandmothers knew long before nutrition science caught up.
Today’s thaali
Rajma Chawal — grounding, nourishing, Kapha-building
Palak Paneer — iron-rich, Pitta-cooling
Raw Onion — a natural digestive, Vata-pacifying
Eating slowly, mindfully, with gratitude — that is the ritual.

19/04/2026

Aujourd’hui marque 25 ans depuis que nous avons fait le grand saut des États-Unis vers la Suisse.

Nous sommes arrivés comme une jeune famille venant de l’État de New York, avec Puranjaye âgé de 6 ans et Prakriti de 3 ans et demi. Peu après, fin avril 2001, Charlie, notre cher golden labrador, est entré dans nos vies depuis une petite ferme à La Chaux-de-Fonds, complétant notre petit univers.

Depuis, le fleuve du temps n’a cessé de couler, nous portant à travers des moments de joie, de défis, de croissance et de transformation — tel un paysage en perpétuel mouvement au fil d’un long et précieux voyage. Chaque étape nous a façonnés, enrichis et a contribué à la beauté de notre histoire.

Avec gratitude pour tout ce qui a été et tout ce qui continue de se déployer — merci, Mère Helvétie 🙏🏽

09/04/2026

08/04/2026

Meditation is not about withdrawing from life.
It is about becoming deeply present within it.

When we come together to meditate, something shifts. The mind settles, the breath deepens…
and a shared field of calm begins to emerge.

This collective stillness has a power of its own.
It nourishes each individual, and at the same time,
it gently influences our families, our work spaces, and the environment we are part of.

This is why we are opening this meditation series.
To create a space where we can pause… together.
To reconnect… together.
To elevate our inner state… together.

Because today, more than ever,
meditation is a necessity!

The evening begins with gentle yoga stretches to prepare the body followed by a guided meditation accessible to all — no experience needed.

✨ Chairs available for your comfort
✨ Just bring your presence and your smile

Participation is free — contributions support children’s projects of Revive Association

✨ When: Thursdays at Dôme in Neuchâtel
Contact me in DM for any queries