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| Aurovillians are helping revitalize an indigenous tropical dry evergreen forest in the region. |
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| Today, you can sip a mochachino while checking email
at the Solar Café. More photos » |
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"For many years now, Auroville has hosted students from Living Routes. This cooperation has been a mutually uplifting experience for both the
Living Routes students and the Auroville community. By assisting students to develop their skills and wisdom, Living Routes has offered a great
opportunity for Aurovilians to share their experience and knowledge with young souls that resonate with a similar vision for a sustainable future."
– Wim Aspeslagh, former Auroville Liaison
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All-night birthday celebrations take place
near the Matrimandir every February 28th. More photos » |
Based on the philosophy of Sri
Aurobindo and Mirra
Alfalssa (a.k.a. "The Mother") , Auroville is a grand experiment
in building human unity with the vision of becoming a universal
township for 50,000 people. On February 28th, 1968 over 5,000 people
from 124 nations assembled for the inauguration of Auroville. After
the festivities ended, a handful of people remained to begin the
task of transforming a devastated landscape into a vibrant ecosystem
and a thriving international community. It worked. Today, Auroville
extends over 2 square miles and is home to 2,000 members from 40
nations.
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Youth from 124 countries placed soil
from their home countries in the inaugural urn on February
28, 1968. More photos »
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Auroville was designated an Ecovillage in 1997 though it’s commitment to ecological work began at it’s inception. Through overgrazing of cattle and the monsoon rains, Auroville began on land that, as one early visitor described it, "was quickly dying back into a moon." In the first 10 years, over a million trees were planted. The forest slowly grew back, which in turn attracted birds that brought with them seeds from trees they hadn't planted. A negative feedback loop (which is actually a good thing!) was created and today, much of Auroville is green and lush. But that is only the beginning of the story. From its 15 organic farms to its 150+ houses fully powered by photovoltaic panels; from its cost-effective building techniques using ferrocement and unfired earth to its ecological wastewater treatment facilities (a.k.a. "Living Machines"), Auroville has become internationally recognized as a leader in sustainable technologies and continues to aspire toward becoming the “City the Earth Needs.”
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Even over the course of a semester, students will only scratch the surface of what Auroville has to offer. Some opportunities that are available include:
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Cultural activities such as live music, theater, art galleries, and independent cinema |
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Classes on everything from African Dance and Aerobics to Reiki, Aikido and Yoga |
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Sports including tennis, basketball, volleyball, and soccer |
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A wide variety of restaurants serving Indian and western cuisine |
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Community celebrations such as Auroville's anniversary and Earth Day |
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Seeking silence in the Matrimandir, a stunning meditation sanctuary in the center of Auroville |
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Nearby Pondicherry with the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, bookstores, and great restaurants |
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The Bay of Bengal and Repos Beach where Aurovillians and locals go to relax |
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A vibrant ancient and contemporary Tamil culture existing side by side |
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Local celebrations of festivals such as Holi in March and Deepavali in November |
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Madurai, rich in culture and the oldest inhabited city on the subcontinent |
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Thiruvannamalai, a sacred pilgrimage site with a Shiva temple dating from the 16th century |
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Auroville was originally conceived to become a city for 50,000 people. More photos »
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While in Auroville students stay in one of the communities within Auroville (e.g. Verité, College Guest House). The rooms, typically built with
compressed stabilized Earth bricks and thatch roofs, are simple, yet comfortable.
Students generally prepare their own breakfasts, eat lunches at the Solar Kitchen and have dinner in their host community or at one of the restaurants in
Auroville. A couple days a week, they eat at the various restaurants in Auroville. Typical foods are rice and ragi with different locally grown vegetables such
as carrots, tomatoes, cabbage and beans. Students in general love the traditional plates of idli and dosa (a rice and lentil paste) with a lentil curry called dal.
The food is mostly vegetarian with many vegan options. Food grown in Auroville is 100% organic and provides for about 20% of the total food needs of the community.
Auroville is situated on a low-lying plateau in sub-tropical India. Daytime temperatures range from a low of 74-85 F (December to March) to a high of about 105 F
(June). While occasional rains bring temperatures down staring in July, the main monsoon rains
come from October through December when daytime temperatures average 77-83 F.
Students are required to take health precautions standard for travel to this region. These are outlined in the Student Handbook, which is available upon acceptance.
Once in India, there are several health centers in Auroville with both allopathic and homeopathic
services as well as two well-equipped hospitals within 30 minutes.
Auroville Community - http://www.auroville.org
Auroville International - www.aviusa.org/default.html
Auroville Radio - http://www.aurovilleradio.org/
Panoramas of Auroville - http://www.auroville.org/panoramas/
The Birth of Auroville - www.video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9044975418956747907
Charter of Auroville w/ Sraddhalu - www.youtube.com/watch?v=4557GrYo9JI
Integral Yoga - http://www.miraura.org
Sri Aurobindo Ashram - http://sriaurobindoashram.org
Tamil Nadu Information - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Nadu
Madurai Information - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madurai
Thiruvannamalai Information - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalai
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