As part of the Water Festival, AuroBharati & Svarnim Puducherry, Sri Aurobindo Society in collaboration with  Pondicherry University, Alliance for Good Governance, The École française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO), Pitchandikulam Forest, PRAKRUTI at Pebble, Auroville organized a

seminar on “Water Heritage: Endeavours in Archaeological Studies, Epigraphical Documentation, Management of Cultural Landscapes, and Protection and Conservation in the Puducherry Locale” at Sri Aurobindo Society on 12^th march, 2025.

On this occasion, Dr. Kishor Kumar Tripathy, Member Secretary, AuroBharati, SAS emphasized on the significance of the Water Festival, which is a vibrant celebration that highlights the value of water as a life-giving resource and has deep roots in religious and cultural traditions. Thiru Joy, Research Associate, Svarnim Puducherry, SAS highlighted about the various initiatives undertaken by Svarnim Puducherry for the preservation and protection of the World heritage in and around Puducherry.

Eminent speakers representing various academic institutions spoke on Endeavours in Archaeological Studies, Epigraphical Documentation, Management of Cultural Landscapes, and Protection and Conservation in the Puducherry Locale. Dr. Dominic Goodall, Director, The École française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO), Puducherry shared ideas on Epigraphy and Narratives in Ancient Scripts: Decoding inscriptions and texts that shed light on water governance, rituals, and community practices. Thiru Gopinath, Archaeologist, Pitchandikulam Forest, Auroville, Tamilandu spoke on Archaeology of Ancient Water Systems: Exploring historical water management structures, from stepwells to aqueducts, and their relevance today.

Ms. Deepika Kundaji, Auroville Member, Pebbel Garden, Auroville highlighted the Environmental History and Water: Studying historical records to understand how previous societies adapted to environmental changes and water scarcity. Dr. Kishor Kumar Tripathy, Member Secretary, AuroBharati, Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry made a presentation on Sacred Waters and Cultural Landscapes: Examining the spiritual and cultural significance of water bodies in shaping communities and traditions. Thiru Raghunath T.P., Director, & Thiru Joy Research Associate, Svarnim Puducherry, Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry spoke on Ripples of Water Across Time: Lessons from the Past for Today’s Challenges. Important talks were reached at the conclusion of the session to start important initiatives to save and conserve the Water Heritage, which would lead to sustainability. The event was co-ordinated by Mrs. Charu Tripathy, Associate Director, AuroBharati, SAS, Puducherry.