“Sabarmati Ashram. Serene, pious, almost religious feel. Greatness of the Mahatma in every inch of soil. It was heavenly,” this is what Amitabh Bachchan said on Twitter after first day of shoot for Gujarat Tourism ad campaign ended.

Bachchan writes on his blog, “there is a serenity and peace that descends upon all of us. HridayaKunj, the abode of the heart, where he lived in frugal conditions is a picture of simplicity.”

Bachchan decided to walk through the Ashram bare footed. He had a reason to do so. He narrates that in his blog post: “Some shots are to be done of me walking around the region, contemplative and with the wonder of the great man’s presence within. I remove my shoes by the road and walk about bare feet, even though all others do not. It is not required that they do, but I could not somehow make myself to not go bare footed. The sanctity and the purity of the premises just prompted me to do it.”

Looking at Vinoba Kutir in the Ashram, Bachchan recalled his meet with Vinoba Bhave himself. He writes on his blog: “I had once visited him in his ashram and met him. He was a picture of silent strength.”

On his first day experience of Ashram Bachchan blogs, “What an experience, what a moment. History and resolve for it all encased within the area known now as the Sabarmati Ashram.”

Bachchan will be back in Ashram again on Tuesday at 6 am and has announced on his blog that he shall walk barefooted again in and around the space so sacred.

Bachchan’s full blog post is available on this link