Handmade in India

Subclusters of
AUROVILLE
Viluppuram
district:
Auroville
Crafts of
AUROVILLE
Handmade paper
products
Pottery
Crochet and bead
work
Stone Carving
Leather work
RESOURCES
Craft Raw Materials Sources
Handmade paper
products
Flowers and leaves
Grown locally
Pottery Clay Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat,
Rajasthan, Locally available
Crochet and
Bead Work
Glass beads,
Cermamic Beads
Viscose thread ,
leather and rubber
soles
Chennai
Pondicherry
Stone Carving Stones Rajasthan
Leather
Accessories
Leather and Fabric
Chennai
1. Painted terrracotta votive offerings at a wayside
shrine in Kuyilapalayan village,Auroville.
2. Artisan sorting pottery at a unit in Auroville.
3. View of Kiln loaded for firing at a pottery
studio.Auroville is a confluence of world cultures
where architects,designers and craftsmen from all
over the world have set up experimental
laboratories to explore materials and craft
traditions.
4. A design studio based on the traditional kerala
tharavad house.
Auroville or the ` city of dawn ` was envisaged by
spiritual leaders-Sri Aurobindo ( Aurobindo
Ghose ) and the Mother ( Mirra Alfassa ) as a ` site
for the manifestation of an actual human unity in
diversity ` and founded by the latter in
1968.Auroville is an ` international cultural
township ` governed by the Auroville Foundation
and the township has been accorded special status
by the Indian Government,drawing individuals
from several countries.The residents are involved
in a wide spectrum of activities including
afforestration,ecological regeneration , organic
farming , educational and energy research,health
agriculture,rural development ,fine arts ,
construction and handicrafts.Most of the handicraft
units in Auroville are in the north zone,in
Auroshilpam , Kottakarai and Alankuppam areas.A
large number of local villagers come to work in the
various commercial units of Auroville designs. The
range of materials includes
wood,metal,textiles,stone,red clay,china clay ,
glass , paper , wax , leather and dry flowers.The
western influence on aesthetics and functionality is
apparent in the making of Auroville products.All
the artisians have been trained on the job,having no
hereditary skills common to the handicraft sector
in the rest of the country.Auroville is a community
with a humanist idealogy and a vision of glabal
unity.
ACCESS
Auroville lies 9 km north of Pondicherry which is
the nearest city that is well connected by road to all
major towns.The nearest airport is in Chennai (165
km ).