Auroville’s Anniversary Dawnfire Meditation
LIVESTREAM
FEBRURARY 28 | 4:30 AM | MATRIMANDIR AMPHITHEATER
Every year, Auroville celebrates its inauguration of February 28, 1968. Mother had written the Auroville Charter just weeks before, and representatives had gathered from all over the world, each bringing a handful of soil from their home countries to place in the central urn of the Amphitheater.
The marble clad urn was the only existing structure at that time, and the Banyan tree in the Matrimandir Garden was the only tree in an otherwise parched, red earth landscape. A few young foreigners had settled down in the surroundings, during the mid 1960’s at Mother’s request. The city had not formally been born.
Aurovilians and guests gather in the Amphitheater before dawn on February 28 every year. The Bonfire is lit and recordings of the Mother reading the Auroville Charter and other teachings are played. It is a time for deep contemplation and reconnecting to the spirit of Auroville’s creation, a spirit that has kept the city alive and creating its future for 55 years.