August 15, 2022

The 15th August is always a special day in Auroville, but this 15th was particularly so as it marked the 150th anniversary of Sri Aurobindo’s birth and 75 years of India’s independence.

The day began with the traditional dawn bonfire in the Amphitheatre, streamed live for those who could not attend, followed by the flag hoisting and Shanti Mantra chanting at Bharat Nivas.

This was followed by the inauguration of an exhibition on Sri Aurobindo’s life and work between 1872 – 1910 at the Kala Kendra gallery. Other events that morning included the inauguration of the ‘Divine Flowers’ exhibition at Savitri Bhavan : this year the focus was ‘Collaboration’.

In the afternoon, the film ‘Spiritual History of India’ was premiered at Cinema Paradiso. This film, the fourth in the series ‘Evolution: Fast forward”, traces the spiritual evolution of India over 4000 years, seen through an original Indic perspective based on Sri Aurobindo’s research. Earlier, other films about The Mother, including ‘Mother as the Artist’ and ‘Mother and Dragons’ were shown in the Unity Pavilion.

In the early evening, Dr. Alok Pandey also gave a talk on ‘Sri Aurobindo: the Divine example’ in Savitri Bhavan and, later, there was the first performance of ‘Usha and the Dawns to come’, a theatrical compilation of sacred texts relating to the dawn, in the small amphitheatre of the Matrimandir gardens. There was also a presentation in the Sri Aurobindo Auditorium by the Blue Light Dance Studio Cultural Team as an attempt to pay honour to Sri Aurobindo and The Mother’s desire to illuminate India.

The main event of the evening, however, was a “Light Mandala and Sacred Fire Offering” at the Inuksuk behind the Tibetan Pavilion, as an expression of gratitude to Sri Aurobindo and Mother India, with the collective aspiration to embody the Spirit of Auroville. Attended by approximately 1000 people (Aurovilians, Newcomers, Volunteers, Guests, Children and our local neighbours), the evening comprised gentle music, offerings of flowers, light food, the live singing of Vande Mataram and the reading of some of Sri Aurobindo’s writings in Tamil and English, all taking place around a sacred fire, an oil-lamp mandala of Sri Aurobindo’s symbol.

The event came together spontaneously with community members working together and offering their time, amenities, expertise and finances. As a celebration of our spirit of collaboration and fundamental unity in diversity, it was a fitting conclusion to a very special day.