content (Arts & Culture) Hall with piano at Pitanga was yesterday too small for all those who wanted to listen to Marc Vella's concert , which was organized by The French Pavilion and CIRHU. Marc as an excellent pianist, composer, writer and a poet , knonw also by his nomadic traveling with his piano on missions called Cravana of Love shared with us... lots of Love... melodies interwoven with unusual exploration of the instrument, extending experiences we got on piano to play stories, lullaby, natural sounds, pieces of historical memories of distant places. LOVE
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Monday, 23 January 2012 (Arts & Culture) Natural catastrophe of cyclone(hurricane) Thane brought to town some new dimensions we even new that they do exists. On one way each of us was going trough intimate isolating issues manifested in physical cleaning around the house, but hurricane happened to all of us, no matter Aurovilians, guests, volunteers; brought the unifying moment with it. Jesse wanted to for the first time explore improvisational theatre on the given theme - hurricane. In interesting interview he share with us the concept of it, and what have happened on the stage.
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Wednesday, 18 January 2012 (Education) Although already without power (was a Thursday night just before cyclone Thane), Korean artist and many of those who were delighted to experience some literary art from Korean and Indian artist came to the Pavilion of Tibetan Culture. Aster Patel opened with Sri Aurobindo's Cosmic Consciousness, after the greetings from Choi ChangGeun and Sarasija. And that poetry doesn't know the boundaries was clear after listening melodic poems in Korean language without really cacthing the meaning but understanding the beauty of written word.
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Wednesday, 04 January 2012 (Arts & Culture) In front of our eyes we could see vivid image of 79 years old Harold Clurman, co-founder of the famed Group Theatre of the 1930's in America. Harold Clurman was known as a "True Man of the Theater" who brought a world of new knowledge.
Harold Clurman was brought to us on Christmas evening by incomparable Ronald Rand, who truly transformed himself trough two hours long preparation into the elder statesman of the American theater. Interesting, humorous Clurman's conversations with his students enlightened certain moment of history of theater
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Sunday, 25 December 2011 (Arts & Culture) What have might started as an idea about the theater play on physically challenged people, developed in an amazingly honest story on some, mostly negative, traits in young and successful woman trapped in her ego. When she become blind she learn what is important in life. The play is a workshop production because the group has worked on it together for two months, and created it together but they believe that is still rough. Jill, Lorraine, Rashmie,Krupa, Samta, Nahid and Peter impress the public by acting skills, ...
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Thursday, 15 December 2011 (Arts & Culture) On Saturday night at Sri Aurobindo Auditorium, Bharat Nivas, Pavilion of indian culture we had a chance to listen to a legendary Arild Andersen Trio. All three musicians - Arild Andersen (bass) from Norway, Tommy Smith (saxophone) from Scotland and Paolo Vinaccia(drums) from italy are well know names in jazz world, and winners of numerous prestigious awards. Saturday's jazz experience leaded us into a rich world of Norweigan and other cultures mythical world, opening spaces we never knew about it, and left the feeling of richness and magic.
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Sunday, 04 December 2011 (Arts & Culture) This is a following episode of aliens.... In this one the Alien and Desmond meet Antonio. And as they predicted, Antonio is also preparing for the Alien invasion in Auroville. At Desmond's house they all figure out something dangerous... and to get prepared they all go to some car compound to make some aircrafts. Then suddenly something happens... Desmond goes away, and nobody can find him. What will happen?...
Saturday, 15 October 2011 (Arts & Culture) A radio drama in which we can peek into a life of Desmond. One Day Desmond comes from a walk, and finds out that there is an alien in his house. Desmond needs to stay with him. Where the alien is from, and what they were doing with Desmond , who they meet on the road... In this episode the alien and Desmond figure out that another alien invasion is going to come.. they must save Auroville from the invasion.. what will they do?
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Thursday, 06 October 2011 (Arts & Culture) Story starts in a ship where Captain and two passengers, Chico and Meli, are arguing. They want to go to an island. Chico wants to go there to meet Medusa to change his life and he thinks that Medusa can help him. When they reach the island Oda and his daughter help Chico to find Medusa's place and when they reach there Oda starts talking to Medusa. Finally Oda decides to leave the island with his young wife Daisy and start a new life. Medusa decides to die and leave the earth in peace. Yatra Arts Foundation also staged a tamil family drama.
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Friday, 16 September 2011 (Arts & Culture) Live audio drama is a program produced by Auroville Radio station in '07. The first drama happens in a cruise ship, the captain and DJ fight all the time but in fact they are in love. In other side of ship an Australian girl falls in love with a Spanish boy. She tries to know more about her future by going to a fortune-teller and at the end at the last night of their journey they all confess of being in love with one each other. A unique drama of 40 minutes accompanied by a music band. Various groups performed their respective dramas.
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Thursday, 15 September 2011 (Arts & Culture) The creative radio workshop led by Chloé last week offered six days to experiment with different sounds. Here we are trying to weave the rich sounds of the Auroville forests, roads and cafes into a story about tango.
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 (News) Tomorrow is the birthday of Lord Ganesh, celebrated in the UK, USA, Canada and Mauritius as well as throughout India. Ganesh is the god of wisdom, prosperity and remover of all obstacles. The whole cosmos is known to be the belly of Ganesha. Parvati, the primordial energy. All realms, all oceans are inside the cosmic belly of Ganesha, held together by the cosmic energy symbolized as the snake Ganesha ties round Himself. The mouse-vehicle is our ego, controlled by Ganesh. One who controls the ego has Ganesha consciousness or God-consciousness.
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Wednesday, 31 August 2011 (Arts & Culture) Intimate and cosy space of Svedame witnessed last Saturday 20th of August the promotion of Ana and Tiago new CD with the title "Guru is Inside". Over last few years musical path of loving and expecting couple leaded them trough continents. On their journey they always listen to the beats and breathing of the Mother Earth, and their songs are thoughtfull reflection of all of that. Songs are soft, in harmony with the nature, by ethnic instruments from different areas, and yet full of rhythm of life.
Friday, 26 August 2011 (Arts & Culture) Play within the play, multiple layer story about certain women's issues that are swept under the carpet for very long. Naga Mandala or "Questioning" , is the adaptation of Girish Karnad story about king cobra with magical powers. Young and naive wife of indifferent husband is growing her awareness with the help of the blind wise woman and king cobra. Story could have different turns, and different endings, all is up on who is telling the story, and yet here Rani (young wife) got her last word with the help of the excited audience.
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Sunday, 14 August 2011 (Arts & Culture) Unity Pavilion was again in a spirit of cultural exchange on Saturday 28th of May. A group of Rwandan students from Annamali University in Chidambaram, celebrated with Aurovilians their traditions of singing and dancing. What started with rhythms, songs, and cultural dances- as an introduction to their rich African heritage- followed with embracing the audience to move to the rhythms of the continent. The evening also exposed the visions of the Africa House, Pavilion of African Culture here in Auroville. Besides drumming and dancing, talks and poetry spoken by Levite from Kenya, currently a student at Erode University, created an environment to raise socio-cultural issues. Read more Wednesday, 01 June 2011 (News) Saturday shouldn't be boring at all because Africa House in International Zone prepared whole day in African spirit. They will start at 3pm with drumming circle and blessings on African Land in International Zone, behind Secretary house. At 5pm at Certitude sports ground will be lively since there will be two friendly matches between Auroville and African students in football and basketball. They sincerely hope - both teams, that you will come to cheer them up. AT 8pm at Unity Pavilion in International Zone African students from the area prepared cultural event which will include dances, songs, story telling, poems ...and more...We all know that Africans stay up long at night so we can expect a surprise or two...
Friday, 27 May 2011 (Arts & Culture) The Turkish Sufi musician and scholar Latif Bolar shares his deep diction and melodies on his third, and last night of enriching talks and presentations on Islam at the SAWCHU, Bharat Nivas in Auroville. In this lecture "The Spiritual Essence of Islam : A 1400 year-long Journey, listeners are given, with a balance of poetry, tales and ancient traditional music, an in depth understanding of the Golden Age of Islam. Amongst other things, Latif Bolar talks about its influence in the movement of European Enlightenment, and the development of social concept of Sufism.
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Sunday, 01 May 2011 (Arts & Culture) On Saturday night, in a secluded space of Purple on Auroville Main Road, Suryan and friends secured a special atmosphere with lyrics and melodies. The evening spirit was devoted to Tenzin. On this special evening, funds were raised towards Tenzin medical bills. Suryan known for his charming voice was warmly welcomed by the audience. His special lyrics inflamed compassion,and brought smiles on known and unknown faces. With her beautiful voice, Taranti's invited us into her personal experience of time and love. Visitors were encouraged to sing along and share this special moment. Read more Sunday, 01 May 2011 (Arts & Culture) In magical atmosphere of Krtashraya the Aurodham Gardens, in front of numerous public both Latif and Parvathy took us on a spiritual journey trough music. Parvathy accompanied herself on ektara(one stringed baul instrument), duggi(clay drum) and nupur(anklet), dancing, and we could feel her voice, reaching high pitches, as it is coming from very far, and yet so close to our hearts. "Songs from the Heart Beyond Borders" was the tittle of two concerts Parvathy Baul and Latif Bolat gave to Auroville and Pondicherry audience. We couldn't look for the better conclusion of Latif Bolat visit in Auroville with hist talks and lecture on Sufi poetry,philosophy, art and music, on historical background of Turkey, and on spiritual essence of Islam.
Sunday, 01 May 2011 (Education) Not that he's know and serious Sufi scholar and musician, but also his lectures, even on sometimes boring subject as it's history, are very interesting and vast. Over a span of almost two hours he managed to attract listeners attention with broad approach to the history of Turkey area with all their migrations. Listening trough the lecture we were reminded with humor that history can be very subjective or depend on who writes it; what to some nation might be a cruel invasion and aggression to other will be merely fight for survival... All the lectures are enriched by Sufi music and read poetry.
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Friday, 29 April 2011 (City Life) Last week AurovilleRadio broadcast Loretta's talk on transformation to sixty fourth graders from Transition School. A second talk to a second group of sixty fourth graders called out a very different style of lecture, with different stories for different children. Swaha and Martin's classes were more serious and concentrated, Loretta reports. In the wonderful way things happen in Auroville, their lecture automatically tailored itself for their way of learning. This time. Anu and Paula's classes were more light hearted and lively, and their lecture came with a very different energy. Did these sixty lively children sit still and listen to the subject which adults say they can't understand? Nobody moved. You could have heard a pin drop in the room.
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Tuesday, 26 April 2011 (City Life) What are the mysterious words "Supramental Transformation? Sixty fourth grade children came to the Supramental Transformation exhibition at Savitri Bhavan to hear Loretta explain. Will children of 9-10 years remain quiet and listen to a subject which adults say they can't understand? Every child remained attentive, and they really learned what the words mean. Then they heard the story of The Mother's experience on the Supramental Ship. When the children walked freely through the exhibition they felt very much at home. Read more Friday, 22 April 2011 (Education) "Let this golden thread of music tie all of us together" was the leading note in the cultural program prepared by children of Deepanam School together with teachers. This program was a just a glimpse of what they've been doing trough school year. And indeed, in the leading tone of music they showed us different things - from classical Indian dance, trough theater play of African fairy tale, sung songs composed by children, compositions played on piano to capoeira in which children are very active on Deepanam School.
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Wednesday, 13 April 2011 (News) Within the week of Celebration - of Mother's birthday and Auroville anniversary - so many events are prepared for this occasion. Amongst others we can see tonight at 8pm in the Sri Aurobindo Auditorium Bharat Nivas, Pavilion for Indian Culture a performance of Classical Indian dance, and on Thursday at 8pm "Auroville Promenade”. Auroville Renaisssance Cappella will perform again at Pitanga on Friday at 7.30 pm. Children can be creative at Children's Art Festival 2011 at Youth Center on Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons. At Matrimandir this week all 12 Petal Meditation Rooms are open between 6 to 8pm.
Tuesday, 22 February 2011 (Spirituality) Focused chanting and meditation at Pavilion of Tibetan Culture on Sunday was lead by Khenpo Lodro Donyo Rinpoche. Meditation was dedicated to Chenrezig who is renowned as the embodiment of the compassion of all the Buddhas, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, and who is also known to remove sufferings, confusion and appears for benefit for freedom from faults. At the end Khenpo Lodro Donyo Rinpoche gave for the library of Pavilion of Tibetan Culture his book, which has many things related to Tara - story of the origins(she came into existence from a single tear shed by Chenrezig ), how she becomes liberated, how she benefits beings now. In the book are also explanations of the prayers for Tara, and some other prayers.
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Monday, 21 February 2011 (Arts & Culture) Le temps d'une soirée poésie (organisée par le Pavillon de France), devenez avec Croquette le célèbre Victor Hugo: "Victor Hugo est un géant qui occupe toute la scène et, avec Molière, peut être, et Voltaire, l'incarnation de la France dans ce qu'elle a de plus universel aux yeux d'un monde époustouflé par un mélange sans précédent de virtuosité et de puissance. Parce que le grotesque et le sublime ne cesse jamais chez lui de se côtoyer et de se répondre, la virtuosité se combine avec une puissance d'émotion où la souffrance et les larmes entrent comme du levain."
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Wednesday, 16 February 2011 (Arts & Culture) The second Open Stage Cabaret at Kalabhumi proved again that Auroville has many talented people. Skillfully, Jesse guided the evening with his wit and humor from one act to another, also giving updates on performers and acts about to come on, making sure the audience never got bored nor side-tracked. So many different things we experienced: classical Indian dance to ballet and tango, spontaneous, unaccompanied singing to opera, world music, fusion, jazz improvisations...from comic to Capoeira...a truly fun night to remember!
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Monday, 14 February 2011 (Spirituality) On the occasion of Mother's birthday at Savitri Bhavan there will be an open exhibition on Mother's experiences and thoughts on Supramental transformation. In an interview with Loretta, who created the whole exhibition, we talked about it. In her exhibitions, she tries to recapture the spirit that used to be at the Ashram, when Mother was still in her body. This year we will see pictures of Mother after her major experiences, and some of her intimate belongings, which the Ashram Museum kindly offered for this occasion. Friday, 11 February 2011 (City Life) Saturday's third session on the Exploration of Nation Soul was more quiet. The group was brainstorming to find the means to implement their ideas and inspirations. The method hasn't became clear yet but many ideas emerged...among the many things that came up, they talked about national flowers, and the way to explore the genius of one's nation through the fairy tales....
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Wednesday, 19 January 2011 (News) Today's news features an excerpt from Geshe Pema Dorjee's talk which he gave last Saturday at the Tibetan Pavilion. His observations are from the point of view of Buddhism, yet are they not in agreement with and an echo of what our higher nature whispers to us, amid the ongoing ramblings of our ego: more more, more? He pointed out that desire and greed are the basis of over-consumption, which is the root cause of our ecological crisis. Also in the news are postings of the art exhibits running concurrently.
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Monday, 10 January 2011 |
