VILLUPURAM: The second edition of the Auroville Literature Festival commenced on Monday and will continue until Sunday, December 21, at the experimental township of Auroville.

Speaking at a press meet at the Unity Pavilion on Tuesday, Jayanti S Ravi, Secretary of the Auroville Foundation and Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Gujarat, emphasised the festival’s role in promoting literature, cultural dialogue, and the ideal of human unity. “The festival brings together scholars, writers and thinkers from across the globe,” she said.

The week-long event is being conducted in four official languages designated by The Mother — Sanskrit, Tamil, French and English. Sanskrit represents the universal language of the township, Tamil honours the language of the land, French reflects Auroville’s historical connections with Puducherry, and English serves as the international medium.

With nearly sixty nationalities represented in Auroville, the festival provides a platform for cross-cultural understanding through translations and world literature. The programme features keynotes, panel discussions, book launches and cultural performances, with a particular focus on the literary legacy of Sri Aurobindo, including his interpretations of the Vedas and the epic Savitri.

The festival will conclude with a valedictory session on Sunday, attended by the Governor of Tamil Nadu, the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Secretary of Puducherry, underscoring Auroville’s mission of fostering human unity.