The Galaxy Plan for Auroville was ready just a few weeks before the 28th February 1968 inauguration ceremony. The iconic model of the Galaxy was shown to and approved by The Mother. At the inauguration, the Galaxy model and some photos of it were displayed to showcase the design of the city that was to come up around the inauguration site.
Here are some photos from the inauguration and the exhibition under the Banyan Tree that show the Galaxy model.
At the Amphitheater:
A large photo of the Galaxy model displayed at the entrance to the Amphitheater. This photo would have been the first thing that attendees see while entering the Amphitheater space from this entrance.
At the exhibition under the Banyan Tree:
On the left side of the photo we can see photo panels showing the evolution of the Galaxy Plan from the Macrostructure Plan that preceded itThe model of the Galaxy Plan is visible on the top right of the table above, partially hidden behind the cornucopia of flowers and fruit! This is the smaller model made for the inauguration and brought by Roger Anger from Paris. A larger model stayed back in Paris.Spot the Galaxy! Another photo/representation of the Galaxy Plan is visible under the tarpaulin in the center of the photo. That panel potentially contains other drawings related to the township’s design.
The shallow pond:
Between the Amphitheater and Banyan Tree was dug and constructed a shallow circular pond, at the base of which was drawn a large kolam representing the Galaxy Plan.
The pond with the kolam of the Galaxy PlanConstruction photo of the shallow pond, showing its location between the Amphitheater (in the background) and the Banyan Tree exhibition (the columns of which can be seen in the foreground)
Auroville Archives 