Auroville

Auroville is a universal township in the Union territory of Pondicherry inhabited by 50,000 people from around the world. Auroville is situated in southern India, spread between the state of Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Pondicherry. It is located nearly 160 km to the south of Chennai and 10 km to the north of Pondicherry town.

Behind the township of Auroville there lies a concept of an ideal township, which is devoted to unity. The Mother first proposed this concept of human unity in the 1930s. But her vision took shape in the mid 1960s; resulting in the establishment of the Sri Aurobindo Society in Pondicherry. After receiving Mother’s blessings the concept was forwarded to the Government of India. The proposal was supported by the Government of India and then taken to the General Assembly of UNESCO. In 1966 the project was passed by UNESCO unanimously and gave it special importance, as it would play a vital role in the future of humanity. Aurovilians or residents of Auroville belong to 35 nations of the world from all age groups. They represent the humanity as a whole and belong to all social classes, culture, backgrounds and society.

Nearly 5,000 people gathered close to the banyan tree, which was at the center of the future township of Auroville for an inauguration ceremony. Representatives of 124 nations of the world, including representatives from all the States of India attended the inauguration ceremony. All the representatives who attended the ceremony brought soil from their country or homeland, which was later used to make a white marble- clad and an urn in the shape of a lotus.