I love Auroville because... 

“I love Auroville because it’s my home. I love Auroville because of the freedom I have, because of the beautiful nature I am surrounded with every day, because of all the cultures and variety of people I am constantly exposed to, because of the wonderful school I go to, and all my amazing friends I have met here. I love the fact that we are like a community, and usually I feel very safe moving around, and everywhere I go, every time I drive or cycle around, I always end up passing people I know. I love the fact that in Auroville we like weird and try not to be caught up in the norms of society. I love the fact that as a little kid I constantly ran around naked as I saw no point in clothes, and growing up I was always barefoot. I love the fact that somehow it feels like you always have someone to turn to and you often are friends with and confide in a very vast and different crowd of people. Auroville is my home and I love it, there are many faults to it too but all in all I am so very grateful to have grown up here!”

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“Auroville has frequently been labeled a ‘Utopia’. I would say it is very close to that word indeed. When one enters Auroville’s boundaries, such as Visitors’ Center from the back highway, or the Kuilapalayam main road, there is an immediate change in the energy of the surroundings and of the person. That energy gives me a ‘settling’ feeling. Everything seems to slow down, take its time. Each tree leaps out with its green leaves coated with red dust. The trees welcome me like no one else can or does. The familiar dusty smell or the musty fragrance of the earth after a rain is simply wonderful. When coming back to a place like this generates so much warmth in me, I am reassured that Auroville is nothing other than my home. My life. My salvation. And I love this place with all my heart.”

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“I love Auroville because it’s a place where I can feel freedom. For example, when I am somewhere else, people judge everything I do or what I wear and what I say. Here in Auroville there is not so much judgment; there still is some but in small proportion. I was also born here and Auroville is a home for me which I will always love.”

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“I love Auroville because there are people from all over the world. In whatever status they may be, when they come to Auroville, everyone has equal rights and respect. It is hard understanding other traditions and cultures, but slowly Auroville’s people are knowing many cultures and languages also. It is so beautiful to see foreign girls or women wearing a saree on a Hindu auspicious day. And in the same way, Indian women wearing a kimono or dress gives a feeling that everyone is becoming one. There is so much real-life learning in Auroville. Not just books, but even beyond. There are the most unique projects happening in Auroville: music, art dance, education, food, sports, clothing, dyes, jewelry and so many more! And the positive thing is that we are together, helping each other progress.”

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“Auroville is a fantastic place to live and especially to grow up in. You are constantly surrounded by lush nature where every tree, every puddle is a playground. To explore this multitude of playgrounds you have kids from all over the world, with all different cultures and backgrounds and languages, but when you are there, up to your ears in mud and leaves, none of that matters, you are simply too similar playing and having fun. Some people who don’t grow up in a place like this have difficulty interacting with people from different cultures and backgrounds but here in Auroville it’s second nature and I love it. As a teenager I really appreciate the freedom Auroville gives you because it makes you learn by yourselves, which is the best way I believe. Because of all this and more, I believe Auroville is great!”

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“I love Auroville because it is different! Comparing to where I am from, Auroville is really a utopia. Everything is different, but mostly it is the energy. I can sense it, I could feel it from the very beginning when I first came here. All is so peaceful.

I am still new in Auroville so I remember well how it was living in [a European country] and I can say that there was not this kind of energy in the atmosphere around us. This energy effects people positively.

That is why I love Auroville: all is so positive, relaxing and joyful.”

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“I love Auroville because Auroville gives me a place and a time to find myself, to make myself clean, to make my inner self strong.

There is an energy, a force in Auroville. It makes people themselves; to go find themselves. People here know what is important for them, what is good for their selves. No one pushes them in the back or forces them to do it, but they want to find a higher meaning, a purpose, why they came to earth.

And to connect.”

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“I love Auroville because it’s independent and different from any country in the world. Auroville is unique. In Auroville, I can go play basketball, badminton, and every other sport for free. In other places I would have to pay. In Auroville, I get free education, and the best education too. In Auroville, I get free lunch, in other places people don’t even get food. In Auroville, I get free health care, other places I would have to pay before I can even see the doctor. In Auroville, everyone is like one big family, everyone knows everyone. Auroville is unique. Auroville is home. :)”

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“I love Auroville because it gives me so many possibilities that I would not have in [a big city in Europe], my hometown. I have the best friends I could ever wish for, I am taking care of ten horses, I live in a house with a garden, I am in an amazing school, and many more benefits I would not have in [a big city in Europe]. But the thing Auroville has given to and changed most is me. Moving to Auroville really showed me that I can’t say I don’t like something if I don’t try it out. It changed my view of the world, it made me curious, wanting to know what the rest of the world is. And also, I think I would have been a completely different person if I would have grown up in [a big city in Europe]. I think Auroville gave me the best childhood I could ever wish for.”

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“I love Auroville because it has so many great ideas in it. They may not be implemented perfectly but still there is such a potential for great things to happen. I love Auroville because even though it is small enough for me to know almost everyone there are so many cultures, languages and ideas. I really like the way that in a big city it doesn’t matter how you look, what language you speak or what you are wearing, you fit in. Auroville is the same without feeling totally lost like you do in cities. I love the fact that in Auroville you can know so many people, to me it often feels like a lot of Aurovilians are a part of my family; though actually they probably are. I love the bit of India Auroville is in, it is so beautiful. I know we all moan about the heat but there is a beauty to the days when the air is full of dust motes, and the sun is so bright it appears to have bleached the color out of everything, but it is only that the sky is such a blue that everything else is dull in comparison. I also love the monsoon, the crash of thunder and the rush of raindrops, the smell of mud and jasmine. Auroville is a dream pushed into reality so it is imperfect. However, we are all working towards an amazing dream.”

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“I love Auroville because it is such a free place and you really have a lot more say and choices than in any other place. I think it is especially great growing up here and having your childhood here because it is such a beautiful place and Auroville really looks after you and supports you. Even if it doesn’t have much it still gives a lot. I really appreciate that Auroville is special because it is different, and in a lot of very good ways. Even the Aurovilians are different from the rest of the people and we have a unique way of thinking and showing things, and our lives are very diverse to most.”

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“I love Auroville because it is my home. I think it has been a great place to grow up, because our schools are amazing, the people here are mostly friendly, and there are so many opportunities here in Auroville that in other places you could not have, or would have to pay a lot of money for the possibility. I have no idea what I want to do in the future, but for now the idea of leaving hasn’t even crossed my mind. The best and most memorable moments are here, and I don’t feel it’s over just yet.”

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“Auroville is special because it’s a little town that has so many different nationalities of people living in it. Even though everyone was born in different places (unless you were born in Auroville), raised differently, they are still friends. Auroville doesn’t discriminate between nationalities and it has one of the wonders of India: the Matrimandir. I’m happy to have had the chance to be born and raised in such an amazing place.”

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“I love Auroville because it is a place created on the foundation of a common dream, a dream of human unity. I love Auroville because I think it’s one of the best places to grow up. As a youth here, I am free and happy. I don’t worry too much about material things and I have so many adventures. In Auroville I have made many friends who really understand me, and I have such a big family to love and support me. I love how in Auroville we are all unique and embrace that. I love that people of all ages spend time together and Auroville has a young spirit. We are somewhat like a big family and there is a lot of sharing of talent, performances and ideas. I love Auroville because there are so many different cultures and people are never one-dimensional. I think every Aurovilian has this little special piece of them they would not have if they didn’t live here – it’s a spark that sets us apart from the rest of the world.”

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“I love Auroville because it’s a really different place to anything you will ever find in the world. First of all, everyone is equal, no one is criticized because of their color or religion or whatever, and the fact that we can all live together and learn from each other is really, really cool. Also, there are pretty much no rules in Auroville and we still manage to keep the place organized and safe, which is a really good thing. But it’s not only that, it’s also that everyone kind of knows each other here, and even if we don’t we always say hi and smile, or whatever, and open up and still not feel judged. Also, it’s kind of a place to chill because there isn’t that stress of ‘OMG I need to quickly go to work and there is traffic’ or whatever. And not much competition between people.”

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“I love Auroville because it’s really international and many people from different countries come here. It is multi-cultured because so many different cultures are mixed together, and I find it creates a little bit of our own culture. I like the setting of Auroville – it’s in a way in the middle of nowhere, but still in the middle of everywhere.”

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“I love Auroville because it’s a really different society and kids are brought up in a different environment and are really free to make their own choices in life. And kids are not bullied to do what their parents, teachers or friends want them to do but can do what they want to do.”

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“Auroville is special because you feel special when you are in Auroville. You feel like you are part of something bigger than just plain, old, boring, MUNDANE life. Not to say certain days aren’t boring or mundane here, but somehow I love the casual easy-going flow of the people here and how welcoming everyone is. But the most liberating of all the specialties of Auroville is that you are not put on a leash...you have a lot of freedom to experience and learn the way YOU want to. And I think the people, from different set-ups, different cultures, different societies, is what makes Auroville so unique. You have this huge, colorful cooking pot with so many different flavours .and I love that. No society is perfect, not even close. The most you can ask for is a society that suits you the best...Auroville is that society for me...Not too hot, not too cold...It’s just right!”