ARATI 1 & 2

The History and Structure of the Housing Complex

The Arati project was initially conceived and constructed by German architect Helmut Schmid. He chose the name “Arati” because it is mentioned by Sri Aurobindo in his works

Arati

Meaning in Sanskrit

Arati and Aarti, in Sanskrit, mean offering inner or outer Light and activating Agni, the energy that dispels darkness or ignorance.

Construction Phases

The first phase, Arati 1, consisted of six 2-story row houses, and was built in two stages of three houses each. The first stewards moved into these homes between 1997 and 1999.

After the first three row houses were complete, Rolf Redis, another builder, took over the completion of the project. Arati 2 was fully his design.

The first block of Arati 2 began in 2002, featuring two ground-floor and two first-floor apartments. Construction of the opposite two blocks started in 2004, only after the first block was finished.

Landscape

Once construction was finished, the green spaces were envisioned by the community residents themselves. The professional pruning of trees is handled every year by the Tree Care team.

Community Governance and Demographics

Arati 1 and 2 function as a single community, sharing rights, tasks, a gardener, common accounts, and hold community meetings every few months. Arati 3, constructed in 2013, is a separate residential settlement.

Waste Water Recycling, Eco Service, and Community Composting

A shared water purification system processes effluent and household wastewater for the community garden. Bins for the bi-weekly environmental service pickup are conveniently located in the community parking space. The community processes household organic waste into soil-enriching compost for the garden.

Ellen’s Home

A notable change in stewardship occurred in 2023 when an elderly resident called Ellen, passed away. Her wishes were granted, and her house was converted into a senior's home called Ellen’s Home, now under the supervision of the Auroville Senior Health Services.