What has happened to our bonfires?

One of the most popular images of Auroville in the local press and social media is that of the bonfires in the Amphitheatre that are organized annually to celebrate Auroville’s and Sri Aurobindo’s birthdays. The iconic image that is beamed around India and abroad is of hundreds of people sitting around the fire in rapt attention, their faces illuminated by the flames while, in the background, a golden Matrimandir burnishes the predawn darkness. 

Yet many Aurovilians no longer attend these bonfires. Why?  

One long-term Aurovilian provided an answer in a recent posting on Auronet. “Auroville’s bonfires are becoming almost circus-like, another among so many Auroville events. The social aspect seems to have become the focal point. We need to change the atmosphere around the bonfires and bring that special energy back.”

He was referring to the fact that the birthday bonfires used to be an opportunity for community members to rededicate themselves individually and collectively to the ideals of Auroville and to Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, and to receive their Force. When dawn broke and the bonfire died down, it was also a moment to re-experience a deep fraternity through quietly greeting friends who one may not have seen or talked to for months. 

Today, however, many of the attendees are visitors who seem more concerned with having a good time, exchanging travelers’ tales and taking photos to post on social media than with absorbing the special energy. As one of the respondents to the Auronet posting put it, “The bonfire is now seen as a kind of fun/party thing to do in the region – not unlike a beach rave in Goa or something. I’m always astonished by the random people I hardly know on Facebook posting about it and how it’s the “happening” place to be. I think we can all agree that’s not what we want and we should do something to keep it under control...”

So what can be done?

One radical suggestion is to stop the bonfires altogether. As one Aurovilian put it, “I find the bonfire evokes a primitive feeling and does not enhance a silent and intense concentration the participants need. It is associated with jungle camps and parties in the popular mind and so may be attracting the wrong kind of people.” Stopping the bonfires, however, does not receive much support. 

Another suggestion is to return the bonfires to their earlier simplicity. In the early days the arrangements were much simpler, more spontaneous, as a few hundred people came together around a simple fire. Yet these were powerful experiences. As one of the early pioneers put it, “It has been confirmed by all who have had the experience that from the beginning of Auroville in those difficult-to-plan moments of gathering together in complete silence, all falls away until what remains is again only that which is always present, obvious, true and shared”.

Today, there’s a feeling that the earlier simplicity has been lost. No doubt due to the pressure of numbers there is much more regulation regarding the timing and entry to the bonfires. Also, the bonfires have become more ‘showy’. While the basic constituents, like the fire, recordings of Mother’s voice, readings from Sri Aurobindo and meditative music remain, the flower arrangements around the urn have become larger and more elaborate and for some years the fire was arranged and burned in a ‘designer’ bowl. 

Of course, the fact that far fewer people attended the early bonfires, and these were mainly Aurovilians, made it easier to sustain a certain atmosphere. One proposal, therefore, is to limit who can attend them now. “There needs to be some discernment regarding who can join such gatherings,” wrote an Aurovilian. “There are people who very much tune with our life – those who share our inner aspirations and outer works – and they should be welcomed in special gatherings where we lit our aspirations high.  But if day tourists and very casual first time visitors …are kept away, barring perhaps a few exceptions, and only those who are well associated with Auroville in some way or come with Aurovilians are given access, it will keep the purity of intention.”

However, there are problems (in addition to the logistical challenges) with limiting attendance. One is that we do not all agree upon who should be allowed to attend. Some think it should only be Aurovilians and Newcomers, others argue that long-term volunteers, guests and Ashramites should also be included.  Some would also welcome Auroville workers and people from the bioregion.

Which introduces another consideration. Who are the bonfires for? Just the residents? Or is it an opportunity for others to experience a very special moment which may change them forever?  If this is the case, how can we exclude anybody who wishes to attend? 

However, as one Aurovilian pointed out, if we change the atmosphere around the bonfires, this might help solve the problem because this would automatically attract the ‘serious’ people and deter others. 

Many people agree that one of the main disturbances in the atmosphere is caused by the incessant flashes in the predawn darkness of cameras and cell phones as people busily record the event. While the organizers have tried to control this by specifying only one location from where photos can be taken, this is routinely ignored.

One of the most popular suggestions, therefore, is to ban all cameras, cell phones and tablets from the bonfires not only to prevent visual distractions but also to make the bonfires less attractive for those who come simply to enjoy the ‘theatre’, hang out with friends and take selfies. 

The plan is to try this for the next bonfire, on 15th August. It won’t be easy to implement, which is why a small group has come together to discuss the practical details. They conclude that it needs to be widely publicised in the media and surrounding area, large posters need to be put up on the night itself, and provision made for those who turn up with cameras, cell phones and tablets to leave them outside the Amphitheatre. Additional volunteers would also be needed on the path to the Amphitheatre to maintain a concentrated silence and to ensure that the ban is observed.

Will it work? Who knows. But if nothing changes, it is likely that fewer and fewer Aurovilians will attend these occasions which once were so central to the community’s spiritual year and its collective aspiration.