Vendredi, le Visitor's Center etait le theatre d'un magnifique spectacle de danse. Des danseurs de Pondichery et d'Auroville avaient decide de celebrer la femme a travers la danse. On retrouvait notamment Ana et Tiago, professeurs de danse africaine a Windarra, et Tejas, professeur d Odissi a Felicity. La performance a attire un large public. Tango, Salsa, Bollywood : il y en avait pour tous les gouts ! Fleur, danseuse contemporaine et organisatrice, nous expliquait avant son show l'objectif de ce rassemblement de talents. Read more

All was invited to participate in the Literary Festival of Kamba Ramayana on 31st March 2013 Sunday at Bharat Nivas, Auroville. A whole day full of lectures, discussions, music, dance and theater lead by great scholars and reputed personalities to address our students, staff and public from Auroville region. This event was organized by the Tamil Heritage Centre to celebrate the Kamba Literary Festival. Kamba lived almost 1000 years ago during the Chola dynasty from the centre part of Tamil Nadu and wrote Ramayana in Tamil. Read more

On Wednesday, for the full moon, Vera, an Aurovillian women from Belarus, played traditional Russian bells at Repos' beach. Many people are listening to the concert, sitting next to her or on the beach, to enjoy even better this meditation in front of the moon. While the moon rose in the sky, with her magical colors, the sound of the bells was in perfect harmony with the waves of the Ocean. After the concert, the public shared a delicious Russian dinner with the soup called borch, salad, pancake and chocolate dessert in a friendly atmosphere. Read more

Like every year, Upasana Design Studio celebrated Holi, the Colors Festival, on Wednesday 27th of March. In the North of India, it's New Year, but everywhere else it's also the beginning of summer. As soon as the guests arrived in Upasana, organizers and other participants threw on them colored powder. They even stopped motor bike on the road to make them join this joyful moment, full of harmless colors and laughter. People shared snack together, listened to music and danced in the garden. At the end of the afternoon, they even threw water ! Read more

At Pitanga (Auroville) on Monday 25th of March 2013 students of Nandita Di Di performed their annual Indian Classical Vocal Concert. The warm ambiance, the beautiful flower arrangements and the quality of the chosen songs has made the hour of the performance worth to remember. Most of the composition comes from the classical Indian tradition but some were composed by Nandita Di Di. Singers were accompanied by Debhashis Das on tabla and the harmonium was played by the teacher herself. The audience appreciated very much the event. Read more

Journaliste et historien, Claude Arpi vit en Inde depuis plus de 30 ans dans la cité internationale d'Auroville où il est directeur du Pavillon Tibétain. Il a consacré ces vingt-cinq dernières années à l’étude approfondie de la culture du Tibet. Dans cette interview Claude nous presente le pavillon de la culture tibétaine et revient sur quelques fait historiques de ce pays et de ce peuple qui a perdu son territoire. Aujourd'hui la culture tibétaine existe grace à la diaspora tibétaine et la profonde synpathie de nombreux citoyens du monde. Read more

With Jill - member of Auroville Theatre Group, Chankaya - a writer and director of Prelud and Vivek - an actor we were trying to find out what has triggered for Prelude to come on the stage. On solo performance, where we can see how society does define one's life, the team was working more than a year, and it was a true collaboration in creative process. The main conflict of the character lies in the relationship between the mother and son, where she represents home, religious and moral backgrounds and he tries to brake those in secrecy. Read more

Tyler Carson, a volunteer at Village Action Group, has came to Auroville in the group of twelve as their part of intership of the study on integrative energy healing. Their study in Seattle is a three years program design to incorporate teachings from India(Vedic system), China(meridian system) and North American Native tradition in order for students to know how to use the universal energy in order to promote healing in the body. Tyler is working on sound healing by allowing his heart to be open to the Divine while making the music. Read more

One of the youngest President Award Winning “A” Grade’ Sarod artiste of All India Radio & National Television- Kolkata, Abhisek has won the hearts of discerning audiences worldwide with his maturity, depth & perfection already at the age of 28. Abhisek was initiated in Sarod at an early age of 6 & trained under the tutelage of his father as well as Guru, eminent Sarod player Pt. Alok Lahiri & becoming one of his premier disciples. Read more

Bharat Nivas, the Pavilion of India, holded the homage to Thyagaraja. It started two years back with the beginning of Telugu Samskriti Kendramu. This year the homage started in the morning with a procession with chantings from the gate of Unity Pavilion. At SAWCHU started the traditional musical homage of Thyagaraja kritis by the Auroville students, teachers and professional musicians. Songs of other composers where also offered in the spirit of devotion of the event. Shri N. Bala Baskar, Secretary, Auroville Foundation was the chief guest. Read more

Sungpil Yang was born in Daegu, South Korea. Since he was very young he had a deep affinity with Korean traditional music. His interest lead him to study music seriously for Daegeum – Korean Bamboo flute. He holds a Master’s degree with a major in Music Education from Youngnam University, Doctoral degree with a major in Musicology from Keimyung University in Daegu, Korea. He completed the performer’s course of an important intangible cultural asset no. 45. He has performed solo recitals ten times and released four solo albums. 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

Kalapini Komkali is an Indian Classical vocalist of the younger generation with wholly original music which is melodious and extremely rich. She is daughter and student of the legendary vocalist late Kumar Gandharva. At Pitanga last night she was accompanied by Shri Sanjay Deshpande, a leading table player form Pune, India. He has been trained under two great table Maestros Taalyogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar and Ustad Alla Rakha Khan saheb. On harmonium was Lakshmi Santra. Read more

When the year comes around the community wouldn't be the same if it wouldn't be for the Christmas fair at Youth Center. A dedicated team of Tree House and Youth Center community with many volunteers have put lots of effort in this year's one. Many activities, stalls,corners...and of course the stage with its program rocking from early afternoon hours. Visiting South Korean students from Traveling School with their mentor Sonny shared traditional music of South Korea with the community with impressive beats, and the unique sound of the gong. Read more

Last Wednesday the 12-12-12 at Bharat Nivas Auditorium Auroville, Bharata Natyam School (Rasika) presented the Bharata Natyam Preformance (South Indian classical dance with musicians). Seraphina presented "The Rainbow Dancer", accompanied by Srimati Shanty Rayapoulle on Nattuvangam, Sri Isai Ma Mani A.Susairaj on Vocal, Sri Kalai Gnana Mani Thirumundi S. Arun on Mrdangam, and Sri Shri Ratna T. Sreenivasan on Violin. They explored the divine colours and their existence to part on the rainbow path towards the Lord's heart ! Read more

Ganesha Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, also called Vinayagar in Tamil Nadu, is the Hindu festival celebrated on the occasion of birthday of Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, who is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this festival. Here's the recording of the celebration happened in a small Ganesha temple nearby Auroville. Nandita Di with her armonium conducted a choir composed by children aged between 8 and 10 and adults. Debasish Dass accompanied on tabla. Read more

Matri Arpanam - a once in a Blue Moon(*) happening. 30th August 2012. As twilight descended over the Park of Unity the candles around the stage became brighter while the fragrance of jasmine and tuberose from the flower decoration wafted ever stronger in the air. The marvel and wonder, however was the beautiful moon that hung in the sky like the quiet blessing of the Universal Mother who consented to make the evening as beautiful as possible for Her children who came to experience this special evening at the amphitheater of the Matrimandir. Read more

Mooralala Marwada is the seventh generation musician in his family , from Janana village of Kutch, he belongs to the Meghwal community and sings bhajans and kafis. Sindhi Sufi poet Shah Abdul Bhita poetry has been preserved and carried forward by only a few families of Kutch and Moora Lala is carrying the flame of his poetry in his music. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv9_3MW_nJA - www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcI_6ToTuhY -/www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNWqe-xS1AU&feature=related -www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/article913667.ece - Read more

Mukhtyar Ali represents the 26th generation of Mirasi Sufi singer from Bikaner and blends the Rajasthani folk idiom with refined classicism, singing the poetry of Kabir, Mira and other Sufi poets as Bulleh Shah. His performances in Auroville were very fascinating. Through the Kabir project, Mukhtiar was spotted by world music circuits and made his Europe debut in July 2007. - www.youtube.com/watch?v=nADkPKUYxtw&feature=related - www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bxcy2eY_NM&feature=related - www.aurovilleperformingsarts.com - www.kabirproject.org Read more

The group belongs to the Chattangadh's Meghval community of Rajasthan with musicians not by profession but traditional carriers of Kabir’s poetry through the oral traditions of all-night jagrans and satsangs. Mahesha Ram had powerful voice with elongated notes and oscillations. The joy brought by he music and the bright pink and multicolored turbans was spontaneously accompanied by the audience's dance on Edayanchavadi sports ground. - www.youtube.com/watch?v=sop02Ivqji0&feature=related - www.aurovilleperformingarts.com - www.kabirprojects.org Read more

‘Philosophy had become too much a thing of abstractions, a seeking for abstract truths in a world of ideas and words rather than what it should be, a discovery of the real reality of things.’ (Sri Aurobindo) True philosophy in the East, but originally also in the West, was indeed a search for mental truth but at the same time for ways to apply such truth to life. Essentially the true philosopher is a yogi and the yogi a philosopher.

Last evening the bharath nivas auditorium was witness to a spectacular Hindustani Jugalbandhi from Pandit Shivnath Mishra and his family.Pandit Shivnath Mishra was accompanied by his son Deobrat Mishra on the sitar and his grandson Prashant Mishram was on the tabla. it was a perfect harmony of three generations on one platform. The beautiful ragas left the audience enthralled. The trio presented one of pandit shivnath's composition called "ma ganga". At the close of the event they played the bhairavi . Read more

Kalki a transgender rights activist with the Sahodari Foundation, was in Auroville to present a talk about the transgender community in India. Kalki spoke about the various difficulties that they face with the government, the law and the society. Kalki who has lived in Auroville for two years questioned their acceptance by the Auroville community. Kalki presented a documentary Sowndarya about lives and acceptance of transgenders in India. Lot of concerns and questions were asked by Aurovillians which Kalki answered in depth. Read more

Hemant Chauhan is considered one of Gujarat’'s best and most widely celebrated singer of bhajans and folk music. He is frequently referred to as the bhajan king of Gujarati music, and is also considered to be one of the best singers of Sugam Sangeet. He has a huge fan base in Gujarat and abroad for his divine music and singing. It is believed that his performances of bhajans and devotional music have the ability to carry the listener into a tranquil, relaxed and serene world. Read more

Conference Room in Town Hall was almost too small last Saturday for all those who wanted to listen to a classical European piano recital. Rina brought to the children at Udavi School for the first time in their life some knowledge about European classical music, and they were all enthusiastic about it. Soon they have started to practice this music on piano, and their love, determination for the music leaded to the concert, where we were impressed by their performance. Read more

The Sufi singers Abdul Ghani, Ajah Maideen and Saburmaideen Babha Sabeer (Vocals and Rabahna percussion in the Qawwali style) from the Nagore Dargah usually perform at religious and social ceremonies at their sufi shrine in coastal Tamil Nadu. They recorded the song Ya Allah for Laya project movies and the album Nagore sessions for EarthSync. - www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXfPFxfy7ZM - www.layaproject.com - - www.earthsync.com/store-in.asp?catalogid=23 - - www.myspace.com/nagoresessions - Read more

Each group of singers brought something special something unique on the stage at the Kabir Sacred Music Festival in Kalabhumi last Saturday. Mahesha Ram group came as the most colorful with their bright orange, pink ...turbans on their heads as they belong to the Meghval community of Rajasthan in Western India. They represent a hypnotic folk style typical of the Meghvals, who are musicians not by profession but more traditional carriers of Kabir's poetry trough the oral traditions of all night jagrans and satsangs. Read more

It was already getting late when third group of Mukthiyar Ali appeared on the stage of amphitheater in Kalabhumi on the Kabir - Sacred Music Festival, but audience still in numbers cheered them loud as well. Mukhtiyar Ali coming from a small semi nomadic village with only eighty families from the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. Faimilies of this village are known as keepers and protectors of 800 years priceless Sufiana Qualam tradition, who managed to carried over the centuries not only lyrics but as well the style of the music. Read more

Kalarippayat, Mohiniyattam and Theyyam were performed by the Udayan's Masters at Sri Aurobindo Auditorium. Kalarippayat is a great and ancient physical, cultural and martial art of Kerala, which was in prevalence from time immemorial. It is primarily an art of physical culture, well developed in a most scientific way. It aims at giving a practitioner of the art, perfect control over his body balance, flexibility, stamina and speed, and perfect neuro-muscular co-ordination, an ability of the body to react instinctively to the senses. Read more

She who Unspins, performed by Ashwini Kaarthikeyan, was presented at Sri Aurobindo Auditorium, Bharat Nivas. The performance was accompanied with live music by P.T. Narendran (Nattuvangam), G. Srikanth (Vocal), B.P. Haribabu (Mridangam), Easwar Ramakrishnan (Violin), Devaraj (Flute). This performance was a repertoire of purely Bharatanatyam classical recital dance in Tamil, Sanskrit & Telugu with simultaneous projected translations in English. Read more