Parvathy Baul is a singer, painter and storyteller from West Bengal. After receiving her initial music and dance training during her childhood, she studied visual arts at the Kala Bhavan at Shantiniketan, the university founded by Rabindranath Tagore. Meeting with the living tradition of Baul prompted her to choose the path of self-training in the Baul order rather than an institutional degree. Impressive beauty, personality and intensity of her devotional chanting and rotating dance, make her unique. Read more

Children of Deepanam School prepared, as usual for the end of the year small cultural program to share with their parents, friends and community. Opening piece was by Keshava on tabla, accompanied by Nadaka on guitar, followed by bharatnatyam classical Indian dance of older and a bit younger children of the school. Songs were sung, this year, except the last one, all in Tamil. And that was also the language of two plays, one of an old fable, the other original piece by students, leaving us roaring with laughter; and third one in French. Read more

On Friday 9th in Auditorium, Bharat Nivas, Aurofilm has presented 5 short films in collaboration with IAWRT (International Association of Women in Radio and Television) and Dept. of Electronic Media and Mass Communication-Pondicherry University. The showed projections, part of the 2nd Asian Women's Film Festival, were: Capsule by Shreen Soliman (Canada), 1, 2, 3 by Nazli Deniz Guler (Turkey), Yup, It's My Body by Kiki Febriyanti (Indonesia), It's the Same Story by Nina Sabnani and Superman of Malegaon by Faiza Ahmad Khan (India). Read more

Rwita Dutta Chakraborty was born in North Bengal and has always been into creative arts. She has become an actress for television and stage-plays and is now well known in the Bengal theater scene. After a short presentation about her Guru Tripti Mitra, who inspired her in her work, Rwita impressed the audience by her solo performance. She picks up the telephone and starts the play... Listen to the monologue in Bengali. This performance is part of the Tantidhatri International Womens Performance Arts Festival in Auroville. Read more

Kalaairani was born in Tamil Nadu and is a well known actress. She is part of the Tantidhatri International Womens Performance Arts Festival in Auroville and yesterday she performed in the MMC Auditorium. Kalaairani was telling her familys story and explained the difference between cinema and theater. More than once she made the audience laugh out loud by her funny way of narrating. Maybe it is because of her 'Tanglish', a humorous mixture of English and Tamil, that her acting is so special and hilarious. Read more

On Saturday 25th at 8pm in Dance Hall of Pitanga Cultural Centre, Jean Larroquette has read out some Classical French texts of Moliere, Racine and La Fountaine. A beautiful trip about the French language in XVII century which, in around other two centuries, has developed in the modern french language. In the reading Jean has crossed La Fountaine's tails, as "Le Rat et l'Elephant", or the "Andromaque" of Racine, to "L'Avare" from Moliere. The reading was done in French. Read more

“Umm… I …umm forgot to say umm…,” Red tried to tell the truth, but she didn't have the courage to say that they didn't know how to colour. All they had ever done in their lives was stay in the box and quarrel. ... This is the story of three qarrelsome, insensitive children, called Red, Blue and Yellow, who must give up all the bitterness in their hearts, and learn to help each other to save their lives. In the process, they realize their unique ability to create new colours. Read more

As part of the "Matter Precipitates" program by Sri Aurobindo Centre for Studies, India and the World, we had a chance to experience a small preview of Anu's recently published book "God Enchanter : Beings in Transition" at Sri Aurobindo Auditorium, Bharat Nivas, Pavilion of Indian Culture in International Zone. This is a story that begins during the war in Iraq and is spoken by different people around the world as their lives transform when they come in touch with the God Enchanter. Read more

With the bustling background of Lively Up Your Earth festival at Solitude Farm Marc Vella shared with us some thoughts, and reasons that he spend so much time on the road with his piano. As he says, "problems are everywhere, and it is much easier to start the war than to say to somebody that you love them.." His experiences proved to him that everybody needs LOVE, simple, tender and understanding, and he does share love without expectations but with his utmost respect. Marc Vella's next Love Caravan is planned for India. Read more

Hall with piano at Pitanga was yesterday too small for all those who wanted to listen to Marc Vella's concert , which was organized by The French Pavilion and CIRHU. Marc as an excellent pianist, composer, writer and a poet , knonw also by his nomadic traveling with his piano on missions called Cravana of Love shared with us... lots of Love... melodies interwoven with unusual exploration of the instrument, extending experiences we got on piano to play stories, lullaby, natural sounds, pieces of historical memories of distant places. LOVE Read more

Natural catastrophe of cyclone(hurricane) Thane brought to town some new dimensions we even new that they do exists. On one way each of us was going trough intimate isolating issues manifested in physical cleaning around the house, but hurricane happened to all of us, no matter Aurovilians, guests, volunteers; brought the unifying moment with it. Jesse wanted to for the first time explore improvisational theatre on the given theme - hurricane. In interesting interview he share with us the concept of it, and what have happened on the stage. Read more

Although already without power (was a Thursday night just before cyclone Thane), Korean artist and many of those who were delighted to experience some literary art from Korean and Indian artist came to the Pavilion of Tibetan Culture. Aster Patel opened with Sri Aurobindo's Cosmic Consciousness, after the greetings from Choi ChangGeun and Sarasija. And that poetry doesn't know the boundaries was clear after listening melodic poems in Korean language without really cacthing the meaning but understanding the beauty of written word. Read more

In front of our eyes we could see vivid image of 79 years old Harold Clurman, co-founder of the famed Group Theatre of the 1930's in America. Harold Clurman was known as a "True Man of the Theater" who brought a world of new knowledge. Harold Clurman was brought to us on Christmas evening by incomparable Ronald Rand, who truly transformed himself trough two hours long preparation into the elder statesman of the American theater. Interesting, humorous Clurman's conversations with his students enlightened certain moment of history of theater Read more

What have might started as an idea about the theater play on physically challenged people, developed in an amazingly honest story on some, mostly negative, traits in young and successful woman trapped in her ego. When she become blind she learn what is important in life. The play is a workshop production because the group has worked on it together for two months, and created it together but they believe that is still rough. Jill, Lorraine, Rashmie,Krupa, Samta, Nahid and Peter impress the public by acting skills, ... Read more

On Saturday night at Sri Aurobindo Auditorium, Bharat Nivas, Pavilion of indian culture we had a chance to listen to a legendary Arild Andersen Trio. All three musicians - Arild Andersen (bass) from Norway, Tommy Smith (saxophone) from Scotland and Paolo Vinaccia(drums) from italy are well know names in jazz world, and winners of numerous prestigious awards. Saturday's jazz experience leaded us into a rich world of Norweigan and other cultures mythical world, opening spaces we never knew about it, and left the feeling of richness and magic. Read more

This is a following episode of aliens.... In this one the Alien and Desmond meet Antonio. And as they predicted, Antonio is also preparing for the Alien invasion in Auroville. At Desmond's house they all figure out something dangerous... and to get prepared they all go to some car compound to make some aircrafts. Then suddenly something happens... Desmond goes away, and nobody can find him. What will happen?...

A radio drama in which we can peek into a life of Desmond. One Day Desmond comes from a walk, and finds out that there is an alien in his house. Desmond needs to stay with him. Where the alien is from, and what they were doing with Desmond , who they meet on the road... In this episode the alien and Desmond figure out that another alien invasion is going to come.. they must save Auroville from the invasion.. what will they do? Read more

Story starts in a ship where Captain and two passengers, Chico and Meli, are arguing. They want to go to an island. Chico wants to go there to meet Medusa to change his life and he thinks that Medusa can help him. When they reach the island Oda and his daughter help Chico to find Medusa's place and when they reach there Oda starts talking to Medusa. Finally Oda decides to leave the island with his young wife Daisy and start a new life. Medusa decides to die and leave the earth in peace. Yatra Arts Foundation also staged a tamil family drama. Read more

Live audio drama is a program produced by Auroville Radio station in '07. The first drama happens in a cruise ship, the captain and DJ fight all the time but in fact they are in love. In other side of ship an Australian girl falls in love with a Spanish boy. She tries to know more about her future by going to a fortune-teller and at the end at the last night of their journey they all confess of being in love with one each other. A unique drama of 40 minutes accompanied by a music band. Various groups performed their respective dramas. Read more

The creative radio workshop led by Chloé last week offered six days to experiment with different sounds. Here we are trying to weave the rich sounds of the Auroville forests, roads and cafes into a story about tango.

Tomorrow is the birthday of Lord Ganesh, celebrated in the UK, USA, Canada and Mauritius as well as throughout India. Ganesh is the god of wisdom, prosperity and remover of all obstacles. The whole cosmos is known to be the belly of Ganesha. Parvati, the primordial energy. All realms, all oceans are inside the cosmic belly of Ganesha, held together by the cosmic energy symbolized as the snake Ganesha ties round Himself. The mouse-vehicle is our ego, controlled by Ganesh. One who controls the ego has Ganesha consciousness or God-consciousness. Read more

Intimate and cosy space of Svedame witnessed last Saturday 20th of August the promotion of Ana and Tiago new CD with the title "Guru is Inside". Over last few years musical path of loving and expecting couple leaded them trough continents. On their journey they always listen to the beats and breathing of the Mother Earth, and their songs are thoughtfull reflection of all of that. Songs are soft, in harmony with the nature, by ethnic instruments from different areas, and yet full of rhythm of life.

Play within the play, multiple layer story about certain women's issues that are swept under the carpet for very long. Naga Mandala or "Questioning" , is the adaptation of Girish Karnad story about king cobra with magical powers. Young and naive wife of indifferent husband is growing her awareness with the help of the blind wise woman and king cobra. Story could have different turns, and different endings, all is up on who is telling the story, and yet here Rani (young wife) got her last word with the help of the excited audience. Read more

Unity Pavilion was again in a spirit of cultural exchange on Saturday 28th of May. A group of Rwandan students from Annamali University in Chidambaram, celebrated with Aurovilians their traditions of singing and dancing. What started with rhythms, songs, and cultural dances- as an introduction to their rich African heritage- followed with embracing the audience to move to the rhythms of the continent. The evening also exposed the visions of the Africa House, Pavilion of African Culture here in Auroville. Besides drumming and dancing, talks and poetry spoken by Levite from Kenya, currently a student at Erode University, created an environment to raise socio-cultural issues. Read more

Saturday shouldn't be boring at all because Africa House in International Zone prepared whole day in African spirit. They will start at 3pm with drumming circle and blessings on African Land in International Zone, behind Secretary house. At 5pm at Certitude sports ground will be lively since there will be two friendly matches between Auroville and African students in football and basketball. They sincerely hope - both teams, that you will come to cheer them up. AT 8pm at Unity Pavilion in International Zone African students from the area prepared cultural event which will include dances, songs, story telling, poems ...and more...We all know that Africans stay up long at night so we can expect a surprise or two...

The Turkish Sufi musician and scholar Latif Bolar shares his deep diction and melodies on his third, and last night of enriching talks and presentations on Islam at the SAWCHU, Bharat Nivas in Auroville. In this lecture "The Spiritual Essence of Islam : A 1400 year-long Journey, listeners are given, with a balance of poetry, tales and ancient traditional music, an in depth understanding of the Golden Age of Islam. Amongst other things, Latif Bolar talks about its influence in the movement of European Enlightenment, and the development of social concept of Sufism. Read more

On Saturday night, in a secluded space of Purple on Auroville Main Road, Suryan and friends secured a special atmosphere with lyrics and melodies. The evening spirit was devoted to Tenzin. On this special evening, funds were raised towards Tenzin medical bills. Suryan known for his charming voice was warmly welcomed by the audience. His special lyrics inflamed compassion,and brought smiles on known and unknown faces. With her beautiful voice, Taranti's invited us into her personal experience of time and love. Visitors were encouraged to sing along and share this special moment.  Read more

In magical atmosphere of Krtashraya the Aurodham Gardens, in front of numerous public both Latif and Parvathy took us on a spiritual journey trough music. Parvathy accompanied herself on ektara(one stringed baul instrument), duggi(clay drum) and nupur(anklet), dancing, and we could feel her voice, reaching high pitches, as it is coming from very far, and yet so close to our hearts. "Songs from the Heart Beyond Borders" was the tittle of two concerts Parvathy Baul and Latif Bolat gave to Auroville and Pondicherry audience. We couldn't look for the better conclusion of Latif Bolat visit in Auroville with hist talks and lecture on Sufi poetry,philosophy, art and music, on historical background of Turkey, and on spiritual essence of Islam.

Not that he's know and serious Sufi scholar and musician, but also his lectures, even on sometimes boring subject as it's history, are very interesting and vast. Over a span of almost two hours he managed to attract listeners attention with broad approach to the history of Turkey area with all their migrations. Listening trough the lecture we were reminded with humor that history can be very subjective or depend on who writes it; what to some nation might be a cruel invasion and aggression to other will be merely fight for survival... All the lectures are enriched by Sufi music and read poetry. Read more

Last week AurovilleRadio broadcast Loretta's talk on transformation to sixty fourth graders from Transition School. A second talk to a second group of sixty fourth graders called out a very different style of lecture, with different stories for different children. Swaha and Martin's classes were more serious and concentrated, Loretta reports. In the wonderful way things happen in Auroville, their lecture automatically tailored itself for their way of learning. This time. Anu and Paula's classes were more light hearted and lively, and their lecture came with a very different energy. Did these sixty lively children sit still and listen to the subject which adults say they can't understand? Nobody moved. You could have heard a pin drop in the room. Read more