When a group of bustling school children entered the Hall of Peace at the Unity Pavilion in Auroville, a sudden hush fell over the group, as they silently took their places on cushions placed around a large, low-level table — The Peace Table for Asia — and soon they appeared to be meditating.
Peace, an integral part of the township of Auroville, was founded by The Mother, who had stated, “The aims of Auroville: An effective human Unity. Peace upon earth.”
On the International Day of Peace on September 21 this year, the team at the Unity Pavilion in Auroville organised a series of events to celebrate peace and unity. This includes the ‘Unity in Diversity’ art work made by artist Helgard. The art work has paper cut outs of hands placed like a cosmic spiral with block prints, drops, splashes, lines and scratches making up the design. Close to 400 hands went into the art work, said Ms. Helgard. “I want the art work to touch people with positive energy, and convey unity. I wanted as many hands as possible. The art work evokes meditation,” said Ms. Helgard.
On the importance of peace, Jaya, a member of the team that had organised the peace day celebrations, said, “We have to want peace. as it is unconditional. It is also about all beings.” She added that the celebrations were inspired by the things given to Auroville, like a print of a block print painting by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Adolfo Perez Esquivel. “We were being given these things. We thought we must put them in a context of celebration,” she said.
Other events and installations include an exhibition of art works on peace by artists from Auroville, meditation, events with the Art Cart from Sankalpa which works in art therapy, a peace mandala, a peace bird made with paper cut outs of hands, and a peace poem collage to which everyone can add a line. The organisers have also put up 12 quotes by The Mother on peace, and have invited people to write their reflections on it.
There are no lectures organised as they wanted only participatory events, said Noel, one of the organisers.
The art exhibition will continue for a month, and schools interested in visiting can contact the Unity Pavilion.
