Jackie Mouvilllat on the Stick Chapman accompanied by the vocals and reverse writing of Anaka, Manosh Bardhan on the Tabla and Matt Littlewood on Soprano Saxophone came together in a concert at Pitanga last weekend. A memeber of the guitar of the guitar family, the Chapman Stick usually has ten or twelve individually tuned strings. It is a polyphonic chordal instrument that is at once a guitar, a bass, a piano and percussion. Anaka uses a transparent plexiglass with an indigenous technique of reverse writing . Read more

Kees Van Boxtel is a world musician, composer and producer from Harlem, Amsterdam. He plays the saxaphone, silver flute and the Indian Bansuri. Kees also manages Birdtrack Studio in Harlem. In this he talks to Sharan about his lifelong musical adventures like riding the New wave and starting a band called Popoufka in the late 70s, experimenting with musical astrology and eventually evolving his own expression and style of unifying the different influences. Kees started a world music band called Shimayana in early 2008. Read more

Questo e' il secondo meeting di alcuni residenti che stanno lavorando al progetto del padiglione italiano ad Auroville. Ad Arka, nella rumorosa libreria adiacente alla Crown Roard, si sono riuniti italiani per discutere sulla eventuale possibilta' di vedere realizzato il padiglione in muratura. Durante la discussione e' emersa la difficolta' di realizzare di progetto 'reale' per cui il gruppo ha optato nel continuare le attivita' culturali sotto l'egida del padiglione 'virtuale'. Ascoltate la registrazione per capire di cio' che si e' discusso.

Tendre et chaleureuse soiree "chansons Francaise" avec le pertinent poete Morice Benin a Auroville ce Mardi 5 Mars a Pitanga .Il écrit ses premières chansons à l'âge de quatorze ans, mais le choc «originel» remonte à Jacques Brel, découvert au Théâtre municipal de Casablanca en 1962, et qui incarnera sa ferveur à pousser la voix lui aussi, à considérer la chanson comme un art majeur. Vinrent ensuite tous ses autres «pères spirituels»: Read more

In Auroville, for two years, a team of passionates has been exploring this discipline born from the third millenium on the Amercan continent. Mark is presenting us this recency between yoga, circus and Thai massage. The French-American tandem Mark and Damien, after a long process of decoding from books and videos, has acquired skills that allow them to offer now the opportunity to practice this activity in Auroville at Arka Centre on Sundays 8-10 am and Tuesdays / Thursdays 7-9 am, and Louise in Windara Farm on fridays 3-5 pm. Ready to fly? Read more

Jagran risiede ad Auroville da alcuni anni e recentemente si e' impegnato nel riproporre ai residenti italiani l'idea di avere uno spazio fisico che rappresenti in qualche modo l'Italia. Alla riunione e' emerso che l'idea del 'Italian Pavilion' non e' nuova affatto e che tante persone hanno gia' lavorato attivamente sia per la realizzazione di un edificio per ospitare 'il genio italiano' che nell'organizzazione di tanti eventi culturali. L'International Zone comincia a definirsi e forse questo e' il momento giusto per spingere tutti assieme. Read more

In this presentation Martine gives an overview of world heritage sites and how they got their status. Which criterion Auroville fits to and the process to get recognition. If the Auroville would get the World Heritage site status from UNESCO that would bring world wide recognition from 190 countries. Along with many benefits it will also provide Auroville with land protection. Some negative aspects would be in influx of tourist. The presentation concludes with a question and answer session. Read more

A beautiful Sunday could be spent in Henk's living room at la “Petit Ferme” while marvelling at the exhibited sculptures and paintings by Henk and his wife Agnus. Henk who became an artist in 1968 has two reasons for this exhibition. On one hand it is dedicated to his wife who passed away two years ago and on the other it serves as a contribution for the new art gallery coming up at the Visitors Center in Auroville. Mainly Red is inspired by the power of the color red. The exhibition goes on until the 3rd of February and worth visiting. Read more

This has been the fifth year running that communication and political science students from the American University of Paris have been coming to Auroville for their undergraduate practicum. Also for the past few years they have been joined by students from Linneaus University in Sweden. Auroville provides a perfect platform for the students with all the different projects and activities they can get involved in. To round of their 2-3 week visit they all gave a presentation of the work they have been doing in Auroville. Read more

Louis de Svedam a cree cette communaute il y a plus de 20 ans. Depuis 1973 il avait deja muri son projet pour tout quitter et rejoindre Auroville. Commme un long fleuve tranquille, tout au long de sa route, il erige des passerelles entre les habitants et les artistes de passage, pour batir des liens profonds et universels.Dans le but de realiser son prochain projet de communaute des Artistes, il organise tous les 15 jours des diners suivis de spectacles pour recolter les fonds necessaires. Vous etes tous les bienvenus. Read more

Renowned Dhrupad Singer Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar represents the twentieth unbroken generation of musicians of the Dagar family. He is the nephew and son of Dagar Brothers (Ud. N.Zahiruddin & Ud. N.Faiyazuddin). He brought Dhrupad to the world music scene with his CD recorded for UNESCO, that is considering including Dhrupad in the list of World Intangible Heritage. He has performed at several prestigious venues around the world. President of the Dhrupad Society, he is dedicated to preserving Dhrupad in its purity. Read more

Aurovillians had the pleasure to listen to Prof. Sasse on Thursday giving a lecture about Korean culture and how it has been influenced by Indian culture. Touching also on the subject of the arrival of Buddhism in Korea and the creation of the Korean alphabet. Participants had possibility to write their names in traditional Korean script. There was also performances of Taekwondo, improvised dancing and traditional Korean songs. The evening was closed by the audience learning a Korean mantra of well being. Read more

Elisabeth Vangioni, astrophysicienne au CNRS , a remonte pour nous le fil de l`histoire astronomique. Dans un expose clair, precis et accessible a tous elle nous a fait partager sa passion, et l`etendue de ses connaissances. Elle a aussi accepte de repondre avec sincerite et gentillesse aux nombreuses questions de son auditoire, et a termine son expose par une constation simple: la plus grande partie de la composition de l`univers nous est toujours inconnue, mais nous pouvons voir de plus en plus loin.... Read more

Hartmut von Lieres was born in Germany, he came to Auroville nine years ago. He feels that Auroville is the best place for him to express, through his instrumental music. Though he also performs in Germany also and is well know there. Around sixty people gathered together on the evening and listened to the contemplative piano music improvised by him at Auroville on 12/12/12. During his soulful songs the listeners had their eyes closed and followed the melodies with full concentration. Listen to the concert's recording.

Auroville Theatre Group presents 12th Night; art exhibition UPcycling Collection by OK at Pitanga; a piano concert by Hartmut Von Lieres. Regular events: belly dance, biodynamic compost making, Leela, (game of self-knowledge), Capoeira, chess, clay, free dance, drawing, colour and landscape, food lab (foods in relation to allergies), Ikebana, integral meditation, sustainable food growing, non-violent communication, OM choir, various types of yoga, Argentinian tango practica, ultimate disc A and the language lab offering various languages. Read more

Michael Miovic gave a lecture and presentation (at Savitri Bhavan) with title - The seven Jewel-Centres of Mother Earth. Sri Aurobindo, in his short essay "The Supreme Mahashakti", mentions the seven Jewel-Centres of Mother Earth which are locked in the hardness, darkness and inertia of the material Inconscience. To restore the Earth Mother to her own divinity and the earth-existence to its native light and bliss, these centres have to be liberated. This is the task of the Suns of the Supermind. What and where are these seven centres? Read more

Last Sunday Mohanam Cultural Centre at Sanjeevi Nagar, on the outskirt of Auroville celebrated 11th anniversary of its existence. Happy children, parents, guests gathered to celebrate the occasion with joy. Children prepared cultural program in a dance way, but we could see pieces of their work and activities exhibited throughout the Centre. No doubt that Mohanam grown over the past years, and keeps striving for better. As such it is a bridge between local villages and Auroville trough cultural exchanges, fosters development and understanding. Read more

There are about 500 children in Auroville, and most of them are studying in Auroville schools. My friend Atchuthan and I (Seraphina) thought of interviewing some children in different schools and asking about how they feel studying in an Auroville school, rather than elsewhere. We visited Deepanam, and there we interviewed the 8th grade Unicorns class, and later went to Transition to interview some random graded students. Read more

On February 28th, 2011, the work began for a new Matrimandir exhibit at the Visitor's Center. One year later, on the 44th birthday of Auroville's beginning, the exhibit opened at 9:30 a.m. following a concentration and consecration of the space. The exhibit, which was partially created with earth from the Matrimandir Gardens, was envisioned to be more a more spatial, visceral, and visual venue than the old exhibit. The creation was a smooth and quiet process, and was realized just in time for the one year deadline. Read more

At the end of the Auroville International Meeting 2012 we heard what AVI Centres actually do, how many active members they have, what is their focus and their aspirations. AVI Germany, USA, UK.... are one of the largest ones, with several activities and also considerable donation to Auroville for different purposes and projects. Today the number of AVI Centres is growing, adding to the family of centres supporting Aurovillie ideals and work all over the world. Soon we will have liaison of Turkey, Haiti, Hungary, Ethiopia.... joining us. Read more

Amongst many presentations on the agenda of Auroville International Meeting in Auroville 2012 was also International Zone. Core of coordinating group of International Zone are B, Linda Grace, Jyoti, Rakhal and Vani. Pavilion groups shortly presented activities and the course of action they're taking. With the inauguration of Multipurpose Hall at Unity Pavilion on 29th of February some new liasons of AVI will be created but most of the groups are still in the area of cultural and educational exchanges, events, performances... Read more

Just before his departure Marc Vella honored us with his last concert in Auroville, and first concert at CRIPA Hall in Kalabhumi. How strongly Aurovilians grown to fond of him was very much obvious not only by the numbers but also by respectful and loving attitude of the audience. Marc who shares his music and love with gentleness and utmost respect invited for that afternoon some of the performing and other artist to join him on the stage. Before leaving he assured us that his Love Caravan will start next year in Auroville. Read more

With the opening concert by the Auroville Choir, CRIPA - The Center for Research in the Performing Arts, opened its doors. Afsanah shortly introduced the purpose of CRIPA, which is near its completion, with the songs of the Auroville Choir led by Nuria. Sound design of CRIPA was led by Didier, and the sounds of the Auroville Choir quickly proved the quality of Didier's design. Although the Performance Hall in CRIPA is a large space, its capacity couldn't accommodate the great amount of people who wanted to listen to the opening concert. Read more

On Friday 3rd of February Aurodhan Gallery will present Sebastian Cortes's Pondicherry exhibition of fine art photographic images excluseively selected from the book launched at the same time. In today's news we feature an excerpt of interview with Sebastian, and an excerpt of last night violin and piano concert at Pitanga by two visiting Bulgarian guest artists Yoana Strateva and Ivelina Ivancheva. Tonight at at 5pm at Arka main Hall we can join Nakada and Gopika at Vedic chants, and at 8pm at harp meditation. Read more

Last Sunday in a pool outside of Auroville, AV's reputation for encouraging synchronicity succeeded in facilitating an artistic reunion of 3 accomplished performers. After catching up, all three musicians quickly realized they were available to perform on the same day as India's Republic Day, at 7.30pm for an hour at Arka. Mystical Meetings' concert began with Iraqi Oud virtuoso and singer, Anwar Abudragh, who quickly created a soothing ambience of subtle melodies transferring a packed audience to the Middle East and gently bringing us back. Read more

Aurelio sounded the Ring for the official opening of the new Svaram building. Puja interviewed him about this special day and its significance. He said that this particular building will serve as an exhibition place, storeroom and research space. Besides this Svaram has its first building on the outer ring road,. The new space replaces an old building that burnt down 3 years ago. It represents 1 degree of 360 degrees of the ring, and tries to invoke the original plan of Aruoville to manifest the symbol of the Galaxy plan. Read more

8th birthday of Sadhana Forest was really and occasion to celebrate. In an interview with Aviram, co-founder of Sadhana Forest Community we can hear short overview of what was going on last eight years with this so successful project of aforesatation. The fact is that this self sustainable community is great inspiration to many on this planet, and as Aviram says"..be sure that everything is possible, believe in Grace and Divine will support you..." on Puja question what have been his plan of action. Many visitors celebrated with Sadhana. Read more

Al settimo viaggio in India Paolo e Ludovica ci raccontano sia la loro storia personale che professionale legata al guppo musicale Nuove Tribu Zulu. Artisti da oltre vent'anni continuano il loro percorso interiore e musicale girando il mondo esplorando diverse culture e nuovi paesaggi sonori. NTZ hanno prodotto tre cd ed il quarto uscira' in Italia a marzo. Nuove Tribu Zulu hanno lavorato con i Rom nei loro campi nomadi, con babini nel Sud Africa ed altre situazioni di disagio sociale tra cui, Scampia, nel napoletano. Read more

Ricardo of New Dawn Carpentery speaks about his work in Auroville, his work in fine woodworking, his work as his yoga. Announcements: Thamarai, a cross cultural project that provides informal education, offers an open house 18th December, 10 a.m. E-mobility: a solution for AV Guests and Volunteers; they would like to offer an alternative to th rental of petrol vehicles. Contact chandresh@auroville.org.in for more information. Read more

On Sunday 18th of December Thamari Center in Edayanchavdi Village will open its doors for 10am onward with a lively evening program at 6.30 pm on the rooftop. At Thamari Centre 24 children play in the morning and around 40 children of different ages participate in the after school program. In the Healing Center they will also launch a bilingual book "Blooming Thamarai" , photographic representation of the artistic and self discovery of children trough the project of doll making, Krupa was exploring body image and identity of children with it.