SAIIER 2021:Divine Flowers exhibition
 Savitri Bhavan |
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 Unity Pavilion |
| Entity::Divine Flowers exhibition by Mita, Rabi, Poonam, Narendra | ||
The Divine Flowers exhibition 2021 was a beautiful display of a variety of flowers with their spiritual significance which the Mother gave them, presented in aesthetic calligraphy at Savitri Bhavan. The purpose of the exhibition was to bring this aspect of beauty, sensitivity, delicacy, psychic atmosphere of the Mother’s work in Auroville.
Description of project:
This project was to create a learning environment for Aurovilians, visitors, guests, children, to enable them to connect to the flowers in a deeper way. The Mother gave spiritual significances to flowers according to their true nature. This exhibition was an attempt to create a vibrant atmosphere with real flowers, some of their photographs or paintings and the Mother’s given names, such that all those who connect to the exhibits feel the sensation of the presence in their heart space. The messages from Sri Aurobindo and the Mother with some history of how Mother named the flowers gave a richer experience. Specially designed wall vases for the orchids and bamboo vases for the flowers added beauty to the space.
New displays for flowers were designed. This year 3D models of the Mother’s symbol, Sri Aurobindo’s symbol, Auroville’s symbol and a peacock perched on a tree stump were created by volunteer Hrishi which were appreciated by all. The displays have evolved over the last few years; this year 3D was successfully attempted.
Live classical music of veena and flute offerings by two Aurovillians created an uplifting atmosphere.
Outcomes:
The Divine Flowers exhibition brought a lot of happiness and a special atmosphere of deep joy to all the participants and visitors. Many children and adults learnt the significance of flowers that they felt connected to, spontaneously.
An aspiration to manifest a flower garden permanently in Auroville which will house all 898 flowers to which the Mother has given spiritual significance to has taken concrete shape, and we are meeting groups to look for land for this flower garden. A pilot project for the garden is being considered at Udavi School.
We learnt to display with better aesthetic sense than before.
The children’s corners were not held this year due to the special circumstances of Covid and entry to the exhibition was monitored to see that the numbers were as per allowed. Everybody who visited the exhibition came in touch with the beauty and vibration of the flowers.
Reflections:
A sense of working in a magical space was Mother’s gift to all who were working to manifest the Flower exhibition. The flowers were collected from many different places which sparked the aspiration in us to have the flowers permanently in Auroville. This gave birth to the idea of The Mother’s Flower Garden in Auroville.
So many of us discovered the marvels of Nature, the perfection, the sensitivity and beauty of the offering of the vegetal world to the Divine.
We are dependent on the availability of flowers and do not know which flowers will be available, and so the next step of having a theme for the exhibition has not been attempted till now.
Conclusion:
We aspire to have the Divine Flowers exhibition 2022 at Savitri Bhavan during the birthday week: 21st to 28th of February. We shall try to set a theme for the flower exhibition, for example “Flowers in the Vital plane”.
