Auroville facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Auroville Aurore (French)
Town
Town hall of Auroville
Seal
Nickname(s):  City of Dawn
Auroville Location in Tamil Nadu
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu and Puducherry
District	Viluppuram
Founded by	Mirra Alfassa
Named for	Sri Aurobindo
Government
• Type	Self-governance in collaboration with the Government of India
• Body	Resident's assembly
Population  (2018)
• Total	8,371
Demonym(s)	Aurovilian, Aurovillienne
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Telephone code	0413
Vehicle registration	TN-16, PY-01
Website	www.auroville.org

Auroville (meaning "City of Dawn") is a special experimental town in India. It is mostly in the state of Tamil Nadu, with some parts in Pondicherry. Mirra Alfassa (known as "the Mother") started Auroville in 1968. The famous architect Roger Anger designed the town.

What Does "Auroville" Mean?

The name Auroville comes from the French words "Aurore" and "Ville". "Aurore" means dawn, and "Ville" means village or city. The town is also named after Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950), a well-known Indian philosopher.

How Did Auroville Begin?

A 2018 stamp sheet from India celebrating Auroville's 50th anniversary.

In 1964, the Sri Aurobindo Society decided to create a city. This city would be dedicated to Sri Aurobindo's ideas. Mirra Alfassa, his spiritual partner, believed that humans are always growing. She hoped this "universal township" would help humanity progress. She also thought it would help India's rebirth.

Mirra Alfassa shared her vision in 1965. She said Auroville welcomes everyone who wants to grow and live a better life. It aims to be a universal town where people from all countries can live in peace. It should be free from different beliefs, politics, and nationalities. The main goal of Auroville is to achieve human unity.

Where is Auroville Located?

Auroville is built on a dry plateau, about 10 kilometers north of Pondicherry. It is also about 5 kilometers from the coast. The chosen area is roughly 20 square kilometers.

When Was Auroville Opened?

A grand opening ceremony took place on February 28, 1968. Delegates from 124 nations attended. Mirra Alfassa wrote a four-point charter for Auroville. This charter explained her vision for how people should live together:

1. Auroville does not belong to any one person. It belongs to all humanity. But to live there, you must be willing to serve a higher consciousness.
2. Auroville will be a place for endless learning and constant progress. It will be a place where youth never fades.
3. Auroville aims to connect the past and the future. It will use all discoveries, both old and new. Auroville will bravely move towards future achievements.
4. Auroville will be a place for exploring both material and spiritual things. Its goal is to truly bring human unity to life.

The Matrimandir: A Place for Peace

The Matrimandir, a golden metallic sphere in the center of town.

At the very center of Auroville is the Matrimandir. Mirra Alfassa designed it as "a symbol of the Divine's answer to man's aspiration for perfection." People keep silence inside the Matrimandir. This helps to keep the space peaceful. The whole area around the Matrimandir is called the Peace Area.

Inside the Matrimandir, a ramp spirals upwards. It leads to a cool, air-conditioned room made of white marble. This room is meant to be "a place to find one's consciousness." The Matrimandir uses solar power and is surrounded by beautiful gardens. If there is no sunlight, a solar-powered light beam replaces the sunray on the globe inside.

Around the Matrimandir, the town is divided into four main "zones":

• The "Residential Zone" for homes.
• The "Industrial Zone" for work and businesses.
• The "Cultural (& Educational) Zone" for learning and arts.
• The "International Zone" for people from different countries.

Outside these city zones is a "Green Belt." This area is for environmental research and resources. It includes farms, forests, a botanical garden, and places to collect water. Some small communities also live in the Green Belt.

Who Lives in Auroville?

How the population of Auroville has grown over time.

In its first 20 years, about 400 people from 20 countries lived in Auroville. Over the next 20 years, this number grew to 2,000 people from 40 countries. By 2018, Auroville had 2,814 residents. This included 2,127 adults and 687 children from 54 countries. About half of the residents are from India. Nearly 20% are from France and Germany.

The community has many housing areas. They have names in Tamil, English, French, and Sanskrit. Some examples are Aspiration, Arati, La Ferme, Auromodel, and Isaiambalam.

The courtyard of the Tibetan Centre in Auroville.

The Dalai Lama's seat at the Tibetan Centre in Auroville.

Where are Auroville Residents From?

Auroville is home to people from many different countries. Here is a breakdown of nationalities as of December 2021:

How Auroville Helps Nearby Villages

Auroville works closely with the villages around it. These villages are mainly home to Tamil people. The Auroville Village Action Trust runs many projects to help them. One big project is the Auroville Village Action Group (AVAG). It helps women, offers education, and provides financial support. They also sell products under names like AVAL and Surya. Other projects include schools, health services, and cultural centers. There's even a program called "Reach for the Stars!" to help young people from the villages go to college.

How Does Auroville's Economy Work?

Auroville does not use regular paper money or coins. Instead, residents have account numbers linked to a central account. Visitors get a temporary account and an "Aurocard." This is a special debit card for use within Auroville.

Residents are expected to contribute to the community each month. They help through work, money, or by offering their skills. Visitors also pay a daily fee, which helps fund Auroville. There is a system called "maintenance" for residents who need financial help. This covers their basic living needs. Auroville's economy is always changing as it tries to achieve its vision.

The Indian government provides only a small part of Auroville's budget. Most of the money comes from Auroville's businesses. These businesses contribute 33% of their profits to Auroville's main fund. Donations, often from other countries, also provide a lot of money. Auroville has guest houses, construction companies, and IT businesses. They also make and sell things like handmade paper and organic food. Their well-known incense sticks are sold in Auroville's own shop in Puducherry and online. These businesses employ over 5,000 people, mostly from nearby areas.

Other activities in Auroville include planting trees, organic farming, and basic education research. They also focus on health care, village development, and smart technologies. Town planning, water management, and cultural events are also important.

Where is Auroville Located?

Auroville Main Road.

Auro Beach.

Auroville is a group of properties about 12 kilometers north of Pondicherry. You can easily reach it using the East Coast Road (ECR). This road connects Chennai and Pondicherry. To get to the visitor center and Matrimandir, travel 6 kilometers west from the ECR turnoff at Bommayapalayam. If you turn east, you will go directly to Auroville's private beach called Repos.

What is Auroville's Climate Like?

Auroville is in a warm, wet-and-dry tropical area. It is on a plateau, with the highest point (32 meters above sea level) at the Matrimandir. The average yearly rainfall is 1200 millimeters. Most of this rain comes during the SW monsoon (June to September) and NE monsoon (November to December). There is a dry period of about 6 months. The average highest temperature is 32.2°C, and the average lowest is 20°C.

How Does Auroville Communicate?

The Auroville website has public and private forums. These are for different projects, interests, and groups within the community. The opinions shared there are not always those of the whole community. Auroville radio provides recordings and daily news about local events. Auroville also has a MediaInterface team. This team helps manage visits from journalists and filmmakers. Their goal is to make sure that all media get correct and official information from reliable sources.

Auroville's 50th Anniversary

On February 28, 2018, Auroville celebrated its 50th anniversary. The Indian President, Ram Nath Kovind, sent a message. He called Sri Aurobindo "one of modern India's greatest sages." He also wrote that Auroville "represents humanity's aspiration for peace and goodwill." He said it is "a unique symbol of human unity."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Auroville on February 25, 2018. He meditated in the Matrimandir and attended some events. He then gave a speech in the Sri Aurobindo Auditorium. He spoke about the Auroville Charter and its basic principles. He said, "Indian society is fundamentally diverse. It has fostered dialogue and a philosophic tradition. Auroville showcases this ancient Indian tradition to the world by bringing together global diversity." He hoped Auroville would keep developing new and creative ideas for India and the world.

Images for kids

• 

  A close view of Auroville Matri Mandir in Puducherry

• 

  Savitri Bhawan

• 

  Vérité Learning Centre

• 

  Bharat Niwas

See also

In Spanish: Auroville para niños