The Sufi singers Abdul Ghani, Ajah Maideen and Saburmaideen Babha Sabeer (Vocals and Rabahna percussion in the Qawwali style) from the Nagore Dargah usually perform at religious and social ceremonies at their sufi shrine in coastal Tamil Nadu. They recorded the song Ya Allah for Laya project movies and the album Nagore sessions for EarthSync. - www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXfPFxfy7ZM - www.layaproject.com - - www.earthsync.com/store-in.asp?catalogid=23 - - www.myspace.com/nagoresessions - Read more

In the sports ground of Edayanchavadi village Bindhu Malini and Vedanth Bharadwaj were performing live, with Folk-Blues acoustic set, the Kabir's poetry. They sang all the songs in Tamil language: Mira's song, To remember God , Mira's Bajan's song, Maya a Fraud, Sattle Sound of Universe. Bindhu's husband Vasu Vikshi also jumped on stage to play and sing with humor about Kabir in the contemporary contest and the Kaveri River's song. - www.vedanth.in - www.kabirproject.org - www.aurovilleperformingarts.com - Read more

Last Saturday in SAWCHU in Bharat Nivas, the international children's theatre workshop on Tagore literature took place. Mainly given in Tamil, its purpose was to let the children from the villages around Auroville share knowledge, work together and feel as one. And not just the children, but the teachers and some experts in theatre and education as well. The day, facilitated by Dr. Velu Saravanan, consisted of reciting poems and songs, theatre classes and as finale, a small play performed by the children. Read more

Pongal is one of the longest festivals of Tamils. It is celebrated from the14th to the 17th of January and it honors a new harvest season. It is considered as a good omen and it is an occasion to rejoice with friends, family and neighbors. In Hindu Culture, the Tamil Month of Thai brings good fortune to everyone, or as the Tamils say: "Thai piranthaal Vazhi Pirakkum" which means "the beginning of Thai provides ways for new opportunities". I guess we all need new, enriching and fertile opportunities, so happy Pongal to each of you. Read more

Ranjani and Gayatri perform their well appreciated carnatic melodies at the Adishakti Theater for the 2011 Soorya Festival of Pondicherry. - Ranjani and Gayatri are among the few carnatic musicians who have achieved a high level of success in both vocal and violin music. After more than a decade as successful violinists, the sisters' foray into vocal music has brought them instant recognition and wide acclaim. The sisters started giving vocal concerts in 1997, and within three years, won high praise from discerning critics and music lovers all over the globe. - blogs.wesleyan.edu

Priyadarshini Govind enchants the audience with her bharathnatyam performance at the Adishakti theater for the 2011 Soorya Festival event.  A graduate in commerce from the University of Madras, Chennai, Priyadarsini holds a diploma in Mass Communication, but Bharatanatyam has been her first love ever since she was six.Tall and slim, this Chennai based dancer is a delight to watch, the strong lines of her dance brought alive by a quality of abhinaya, nothing short of being in a class of its own.Intense and naturally talented, her special interest remains abhinaya: 'I think it's beautiful and I was trained in a particular style that gives a lot of emphasis on it'. artindia.net Read more

We walked along together for a while. We went to some places through Tamil Nadu meeting Indian people and culture. We asked them to sing a little song just like that. Discover India through their voices: at a local market, then harvesting in a rice field, or at Pour Tous Auroville supermarket, inside a church for Easter and finally walking among mountains in Kodaikanal.

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In this short interview Raja Ram gives us an insight of his life here in Auroville. He tells us how at a young age he got interested in Auroville because he learned a lot about the Mother and Sri Aurobindo in 'Isaiambalam' school which he attended. His aim is to help people and take Auroville to the next level. He spent two and and half years helping to develop the Distribution Center (a.k.a New Pour Tous) and is now involved with the Village Action. Interesting interview for those who understand..

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Un bus parte nel mezzo del pomeriggio per andar al Depaam festival a Thiruvannamalai. Ma cos'e' il Deepam festival? Vivi ascoltando le mie esperienze e sensazioni  questa via crucis tutta all'indiana. Una lunga marcia intervallata tra un buon chai e un succo Ital bevuti nel ciglio di questo fiume di gente che scorre senza freno rincorrendo la buona sorte.

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On Saturday the 14 November at the Gallery Square Circle in Kala Kendra ,an exhibition of Tamil artist Anbazhagan was inaugurated. The event started with a short performance by the Mohanam Sound crew. Thoorigai is the title of the artist's opus which is symbolically focused on his own world and life. Thoorigai translates roughly In English as 'Journey Toward Colorful Soil'. Anbazhagan's work is mostly oil on canvas; the rich textures of India can be clearly seen  from the soil to the tools and ornaments of daily life, from people in their normal activities, to vast symbolism. The interview with Anbazhagan is in Tamil.

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On on 15th August local villages around Auroville joyfully celebrated Indian independence day, an anniversary which fell on Sri Arobindo's 137th birth anniversary. One of the neighboring villages located very close to Auroville's greenbelt, called Kottakarai, participated enthusiastically in this unique celebration. Accordingly, women's groups from the village in conjunction with school students organized sports and other activities to encourage people from the village to get involved. Sudhakar interviewed some Tamil participants who were involved in these events, and AurovilleRadio has happily uploaded this program for everyone to hear.

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Last Saturday in the small village Rayapettai in the Auroville bioregion people gathered for a special event – introduction of Village Mapping Project with Google Earth. Amazing, and maybe hard to imagine but Rayapettai is on the map of the world on net! The aim of the project which started in spring was to contribute to the cultural and social revitalization of the region, and improve rural development. The project was introduced to the villagers with huge map made by Village Mapping Project team, and a children's play, which told us about Google Earth on its own way. Now Rayapettai exists on the map of the whole world! Would any of other villages follow that great example? Read more

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Last full moon on Saturday night was more in the spirit of cultural events than regular parties, although also the latest weren't missed. Bharat Nivas was witnessing the annual Mirra Women's Group performance. Mirra Womens Group are not only gathering women for different helping needs and supports, but also are very much active on the field of artistic expressions. From musical recitals, singing we slowly came to the most explosive part of that night – to some south Indian folk dances. Audience was supportive all the way with it constant hum in the background, but when girls started to dance, we heard a real excitement amongst the crowd. Don't dare to doubt that some of them joined garba dance afterward in nearby Sawchu.

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Private Land inside Auroville is a burning issue. While plans for the future city are being made, private land owners are pursuing their own plans. The tree cutting in the land near Certitude is a visible reminder of this gap. The land was flattened and is being offered for sale. AurovilleRadio tries to shed some light on what is happening there. Interviews with land owners and Jesse from the Auroville Council give two different perspectives on the subject.

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Without doubt Ganesh is one of the most popular deities in India, and all over the world. Either for his kindness and qualities of a god who's beneficiary in many cases or because of his interesting and cuddly figure of full belly being with elephant head and four arms... however, Lord Shree Ganesh is a god of knowledge and the remover of obstacles. He is worshiped or at least remembered in the beginning of any auspicious performance for blessings and auspiciousness. He has four hands, elephant's head and a big belly. His vehicle is a tiny mouse. A unique combination of his elephant like head and a quick moving tiny mouse vehicle represents tremendous wisdom, intelligence and presence of mind.

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Mohanam Marutham panpattu maiyathin Mudalam Aandu Niraivu vizha 13. 8. 2009 Andru Alankuppam Villiattu thidalil enithey Nadaipettrathu. Kadantha Oru varudankalaka Mohanam Marutham Siruvarkal karttu vantha (Kollattam, thappatam, Silambattam, Nattupura Nadanam, Nadakam, bharathanatiyam, padal) Kalaikalai vizha Medaiyil velipadulthinargal Ivvizhavirkku pettrorkal Anaivarum Kalanthu kondu, thankal Siruvarkalin thiramaiyinai paratinarkal. Melum Avarkalin Kalachara pariMattrathai parthavudan Kirama Samuthayam Valara Ethu oru Mun udaranamaka Amainthathu. Kirama pura Siruvarkalukku Ivvizha Thankal thiramiyai velipadutha oru Nalla Vaippaka Irunthathu. Ithu mathiriyana Kalai Nikazhichikal kirama makkalai ondru Servatharkku Oru Nalla palamaka Irunthathu.

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Mohanan Cultural Center prepared last Sunday presentation in Alankuppam of DVD, which was taken of on 26th of February in Visitors Center at their show of Dances of the World – which was done by common efforts of children, youngster and Albinca. Mohanam Cultural Center is trying to be a bridge between the traditional and the modern, is a place where can local children and others find form of art in which they would like to express themselves.

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My name is Muthukumar. I was born in Kuilapalayam in a poor family and studied in a government school there until the 4th standard. In 1994 I got the chance to join the Life Education Center in Kottakarai, where I studied for the next 7 years, learning masonry and typing. Also I learned about Auroville and the works of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo. Then, after studying in Pondicherry for 2 years, I got married. My next work was at Siddhartha Farm, and in the Auroville Boutique. But I would like to work in the area of social work. Now I'm working at the cafe “le Morgan” in the city center where I am happy; I have a beautiful life in Auroville. mp3/2009_04_22_interview_muthukumar_city_center_tamil_lite.mp3&totalTime=9:55

Meenakshi, the poet from the nursery. Her life is dedicated to poetry, Tamil culture and children. For young Auroville workers and school drop-outs, she runs an unusual program since she came here some 33 years ago. She published countless poems. In this interview, Meenakshi presents her educational and literary work; she shares especially her enthusiasm for the richness and beauty of tamil language.

“Village Action Group” is taking care of more than 50 villages around Auroville. This organization, which combines Aurovilians and salaried employees, tries to help villagers (especially women and youth) to organize themselves into self-help groups, for personal and economical development (micro-credit) and village development (micro-project). Other activities also supported by Village Action are education, sports, culture, health, ecology… Anbu has worked for 20 years in AVAG; he now directs its activities under a trust of “Village Action Group”.

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“My name is Swamynathan. I studied in Kanchipuram, but I came to the village of Irumbai to work in the temple there, which is actually our family temple. I have been working there for the past four years performing puja. Irumbai temple is a very ancient one. It is said that long ago Thirunanna Sambanther came to this temple, singing a song regarding Kaduvali. In front of the temple there's a Banyan tree, where he had sat in meditation, as for the past year there had been no rain. During that time his only food was the leaves of the Banyan tree.”

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Here some words by Sunder who is in process to apply as New Comer. “I am Sunder from Edayanchavady. I work at Buddha Garden, doing animal care; there are many different things to take care for. Right now I work as a volunteer. I am interested in most of the things I do and love working with animals. I start early morning, around 6 o'clock and work until 9 a.m. It means doing farming in the morning and afterwards I start animal care around 10 a.m. I feel farm work is an important thing in the life. I have done my BBA and after that I got a job in Auroville... so I'm happy to work in Auroville and would like offer fully to Auroville.”

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Have you ever wondered how people party in the village? Tuesday, February 24th marked the end of a nearly week-long festival in honor of the Hindu Goddess Kali. AurovilleRadio attended the festivities of the final evening in the village of Alankupam and caught glimpses of a Tamil festival atmosphere. Play the following selection to learn about the Goddess Kali and hear an interview with Vika asking Shaktivel, a local resident, to explain how the festival unfolds.

mp3/2009_02_24_magazine_kali_festival_english_lite.mp3 Also, click READ MORE to see photos from the event. Read more

Would you like to save money, eat less, feel better, and help the environment all at once? A new revolution in eating, the raw food diet may lead you to do all of this and more. This edition of Towards Sustainability will delve into inner as well as outer sustainability. Are you familiar with Prana: the life force? According to Anandi, Prana is most available to humans in raw food. Listen to the following interview with Anandi from KOFPU to learn more about the benefits of raw food, her personal journey, and upcoming workshops so you can learn to cook and eat raw as well. “You are what you eat!”

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Last Tuesday His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Auroville  for the third time since 1973, this time to inaugurate the newly completed Pavilion of Tibetan Culture. Prior to his public address he made a brief visit to Matrimandir, accompanied by a small entourage of monks and security guards.  Approximately 3,000 people, including school children, sat quietly to listen to him speak on the of theme ‘Human Unity and Universal Responsibility.'  At the completion of his talk the Dalai Lama responded to a number of questions from the audience.

Read more

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Quite some time ago, on Tuesday the 23rd of December, there was a great cultural Program at Udavischool. Students from nearly all grades presented; play, dance, and singing. And once again it was showed up what great work is happening at the Udavischool project. There was English as well as French play, and Tamil as well as Sanskrit singing. And even if it is not possible to let you feel the whole energy that was in the air, here is at least the audio from this very nice performance.

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Golus last day is saraswathy pooja. 9 days we pray to ambal. By praying to God this way we get sakthi in ourselves. On the 10 day it is iyida pooja which is for iyadam (weapons). Only in indian culture we pray with weapons, and cows. We thank the cows and weapons because we use them for our uses. We make Golu a interesting day for kids by tell stories and placing dolls shaped like god on shelves. We give prasadam to people.

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In a rainy day of the end of November Prahlad Tipanya came to reunite 70 Aurovilians in an improvised choir to sing Kabir. Kabir, the mystic poet, openly criticized all sects and gave a new direction to the Indian philosophy. This is due to his straight forward approach that has a universal appeal. It is for this reason that Kabir is held in high esteem all over the world. Aurovilians were happy to celebrate singing this unifying poetry.

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For the english magazine of today, a talk about Aurovilles present and future with Tixon. A young Indian, born in Auroville, who tells us how he found his way to Auroville and what made him come back after finishing his school in England. He talks about both: the positive influences of western culture, as well as the positive influences of the surounding villages, giving their piece to the diversity of Auroville. To listen to the whole Interview, you can click here.

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