Building Skills Through Juggling and Creative Learning Posted on June 14, 2026 by Divya Priya As part of an innovative capacity-building initiative, a one-hour juggling training session was conducted for the team members, volunteers, and interns on both Wednesday and Thursday from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The sessions were facilitated by Mr. Gunjan Saraf (Chikkoo), who introduced participants to the art of juggling through engaging demonstrations and hands-on practice. Beyond being a recreational activity, juggling is a powerful tool for developing concentration, hand-eye coordination, focus, perseverance, and problem-solving abilities. Participants learned basic juggling techniques while experiencing the value of patience, practice, and continuous improvement. The training was organized with a larger objective in mind: enabling team members to later conduct similar sessions for school students. By equipping facilitators with these skills, the initiative aims to introduce children to a fun and interactive learning method that promotes confidence, coordination, teamwork, and cognitive development. The sessions were well received and provided participants with a unique approach to experiential learning that can be effectively integrated into educational and child development programs.
Forests, Happiness, and Interconnected Futures Posted on June 14, 2026June 14, 2026 by Divya Priya Previous Next Our team participated in the “Forest-Bound: Entangled Happiness” Symposium, an international dialogue exploring the relationship between forests, well-being, ecology, and society. The symposium brought together researchers, environmentalists, legal experts, educators, and conservation practitioners to reflect on how human well-being is deeply interconnected with the health of natural ecosystems.The multi-day event featured immersive forest experiences, discussions on nature conservation, environmental governance, and the rights of nature, creating a platform for meaningful exchange between local and international participants. A notable highlight was the Moot Court on Forest Rights and Happiness, which encouraged critical discussions on environmental justice and the role of forests in sustaining life and well-being.The symposium witnessed participation from representatives of the Alliance Française, the French Consulate in Puducherry, and international botanists and environmental practitioners from Bhutan, fostering valuable cross-cultural and interdisciplinary dialogue. The event reinforced the importance of protecting forests not only as ecological assets but also as vital contributors to community well-being, resilience, and a sustainable future.Through initiatives such as these, Aurovanam continues to serve as a space for environmental learning, collaboration, and reflection on humanity’s relationship with the natural world.
AuroStar Awards Initiative Posted on March 14, 2026 by Divya Priya The AuroStar Awards initiative was introduced to recognize and encourage students’ achievements and positive values in sports. The awards aim to celebrate not only outstanding performance but also qualities such as dedication, improvement, and sportsmanship among school children. The awards are presented under four categories: Performance-Based Excellence, which recognizes outstanding achievements in sports performance; Sportsmanship Spirit, which appreciates exemplary behaviour and fair play; Most Effort, awarded to students who demonstrate dedication and significant improvement; and Most Progressive, which recognizes students who have shown remarkable growth in their skills and abilities. During February, five schools were identified and briefed about the AuroStar Awards. The initiative was introduced to teachers and students, highlighting the purpose of the awards and encouraging active participation in sports activities. The program aims to motivate students to develop discipline, teamwork, and a positive sporting attitude while striving for personal growth and excellence.
Post-Monsoon Bird Atlas Survey: Mapping Puducherry’s Avian Diversity Posted on January 13, 2026January 13, 2026 by Divya Priya Previous Next As part of the ongoing Bird Atlas programme, a coordinated post-monsoon bird survey was conducted across the Puducherry region from 25 to 28 December. The primary objective was to document the seasonal diversity and distribution of birds across major habitat types during the post-monsoon period, when resident species and winter migrants are present together in large numbers. The survey saw enthusiastic participation from more than 40 birdwatchers and citizen scientists from Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, reflecting strong regional collaboration and collective learning in biodiversity monitoring. The study region was divided into predefined atlas grids, and four transects were surveyed within each grid. Each transect was observed for a minimum of 15 minutes following standardized protocols to ensure uniform sampling effort. Surveys covered diverse habitats such as open water bodies, wetland margins, mudflats, agricultural fields, scrublands, tree-dominated areas, and human-modified landscapes. This systematic grid- and transect-based approach enabled representative sampling of both aquatic and terrestrial bird communities across the region. Over four days, the survey generated more than 317 complete checklists, creating a rich, high-resolution dataset for spatial and seasonal analysis. A total of 207 bird species were recorded, highlighting the remarkable bird richness of Puducherry during the post-monsoon season. The species documented represented multiple feeding and habitat guilds, offering valuable ecological insights. Terrestrial insectivores such as warblers, flycatchers, prinias, and drongos formed the largest group, indicating healthy scrub and tree cover. Waders and shorebirds including sandpipers, lapwings, snipes, and jacanas reflected the presence of shallow wetlands and mudflats, while strong representation of piscivores such as pelicans, cormorants, darters, and kingfishers suggested productive aquatic ecosystems. Waterfowl including whistling-ducks, pintails, geese, and spot-billed ducks reinforced the importance of the region as a seasonal refuge for winter migrants. The simultaneous presence of residents, local migrants, and long-distance migratory species demonstrates the ecological connectivity of the Puducherry landscape within broader migratory pathways along India’s east coast. The survey findings underscore the importance of wetland–terrestrial habitat mosaics in sustaining functionally diverse bird communities. In conclusion, the post-monsoon Bird Atlas survey establishes a strong seasonal baseline for understanding avian distribution in Puducherry. The high species richness and guild diversity reaffirm the value of coordinated citizen science efforts and emphasize the need to conserve heterogeneous habitats across the region. The dataset generated will directly support long-term Bird Atlas outcomes and contribute to evidence-based conservation planning.
As part of the ongoing Bird Atlas programme, a coordinated post-monsoon bird survey was conducted across the Puducherry region from 25 to 28 December. The primary objective was to document the seasonal diversity and distribution of birds across major habitat types during the post-monsoon period, when resident species and winter migrants are present together in large numbers. The survey saw enthusiastic participation from more than 40 birdwatchers and citizen scientists from Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, reflecting strong regional collaboration and collective learning in biodiversity monitoring. The study region was divided into predefined atlas grids, and four transects were surveyed within each grid. Each transect was observed for a minimum of 15 minutes following standardized protocols to ensure uniform sampling effort. Surveys covered diverse habitats such as open water bodies, wetland margins, mudflats, agricultural fields, scrublands, tree-dominated areas, and human-modified landscapes. This systematic grid- and transect-based approach enabled representative sampling of both aquatic and terrestrial bird communities across the region. Over four days, the survey generated more than 317 complete checklists, creating a rich, high-resolution dataset for spatial and seasonal analysis. A total of 207 bird species were recorded, highlighting the remarkable bird richness of Puducherry during the post-monsoon season. The species documented represented multiple feeding and habitat guilds, offering valuable ecological insights. Terrestrial insectivores such as warblers, flycatchers, prinias, and drongos formed the largest group, indicating healthy scrub and tree cover. Waders and shorebirds including sandpipers, lapwings, snipes, and jacanas reflected the presence of shallow wetlands and mudflats, while strong representation of piscivores such as pelicans, cormorants, darters, and kingfishers suggested productive aquatic ecosystems. Waterfowl including whistling-ducks, pintails, geese, and spot-billed ducks reinforced the importance of the region as a seasonal refuge for winter migrants. The simultaneous presence of residents, local migrants, and long-distance migratory species demonstrates the ecological connectivity of the Puducherry landscape within broader migratory pathways along India’s east coast. The survey findings underscore the importance of wetland–terrestrial habitat mosaics in sustaining functionally diverse bird communities. In conclusion, the post-monsoon Bird Atlas survey establishes a strong seasonal baseline for understanding avian distribution in Puducherry. The high species richness and guild diversity reaffirm the value of coordinated citizen science efforts and emphasize the need to conserve heterogeneous habitats across the region. The dataset generated will directly support long-term Bird Atlas outcomes and contribute to evidence-based conservation planning.
The setting sun with its beautiful hues and colours Posted on July 14, 2021August 15, 2021 by Svarnim Admin Though the summer is something not all people can take it so easily, everyone cherishes the sunrise as well as the setting of the Sun. The change of the night into the day during the sun-rise and the change of the day into the night during sunsets brings about a variety of reactions from nature. Though as human beings, we have lost the importance of these important times of the day, other life-forms are quite active during these occasions. Here is a sunset which I could catch at Matrikunj through the trees and I was amazed at the hues and colours that it brings about and the change in the mood of the surroundings, including birds which come back for nesting around huge trees, the call of the peacocks, the sound of distant cattle etc. The artificial lighting that we have, have taken away the beauty of the sunset and the dusk that follows, but still, every sunset, day after day, have always amazed me time and again. Submitted by : Raghu Menon @ http://tprmenon.blogspot.com/
Summer Blooms Posted on July 14, 2021August 15, 2021 by Svarnim Admin The summer in Pondicherry is always hot, humid and dry to some extent. It is quite taxing unless you are a very “sun-friendly” person, especially from 12 noon to 3-4 pm. One has to have a good protection from the sun. But this could be the same situation in other east-coast regions as well. But what was quite different is the summer in Delhi. It is dry, burning and dangerous at the same time. More about that later. Though the summer is a bit tough, it has its own charms. The water melons, the local Kulfis, the summer vacation and free time for the kids, summer vacations for most of us are quite nostalgic. It is also the time of exhibitions, the melas, the circus and of course, the new phenomenon of summer camps where the parents want to park their kids so that they get some respite from their ever demanding kids.. It is also the time of examinations for grown-up kids (post-school of course), internships and fun camps etc. But beyond all that, the summer flowers are a treat to the eyes, adding colour and beauty to the otherwise, dry, dusty scenery. One of the South Indian festivals (State of Kerala), the Vishu or the Malayalam New Year (which comes in mid-April) is to start the new year with the arrangement of yellow golden flowers as part of the Vishukkani where the Konna flowers are used. (Cassia fistula, commonly known as golden shower, purging cassia, or Indian laburnum, is a flowering plant in the subfamily, Caesalpiniaceae of the legume family, Fabaceae. The species is native to the Indian subcontinent and adjacent regions of Southeast Asia. It is a popular ornamental plant and is also used in herbal medicine. It is both the national tree and the national flower of Thailand. It is the state flower of Kerala in India: from Wikiepedia.) In Ayurvedic medicine, the golden shower tree is known as aragvadha, meaning “disease killer”. Hardly used by the common man, it forms an important herb used in the Ayurvedic preparations. It has long black seed pods which is not very easy to germinate, and I had to wash the seeds with hot water for a couple of minutes (after several instances of googling), I could get them germinated.. Photos taken at Matrikunj Organic Farm (Sri Aurobindo Society, Poothurai near Pondicherry). Submitted by Raghu Menon @ http://tprmenon.blogspot.com/