Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s organization, Art of Living will organise a three-day-long “World Culture Festival” in Delhi in March 2016. The World Culture Festival is a global event that will be held from March 11-13, 2016 to celebrate humanity.
Chitra Gopalaswamy, who is involved with the Art of Living cause, says:
In a world torn apart by sectarian violence and religious fanaticism, natural and man-made calamities, mankind needs reassurance. They need to believe that there are still human values left in this dog eat dog world. The purpose of life is not to die leaving a hefty bank balance, but to celebrate life, to lift the spirit in joy, to acknowledge the multitude of talents and to rise in gratitude to the abundance that we have been bestowed with.
The World Culture Festival is one such humble effort from the Art of Living to bring people of the world together as a one world family. Such events us help us move from inertia (tamo guna) to activity (Rajo guna) and to joy (Sat guna).
It is an opportunity to touch base with our true Self, which is Peace, Joy and Love.
Over 3.5 million people from different cultures, nations and faiths are expected to attend the event. Over 20,000 musicians will perform on one stage. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have given their consent to the part of inaugural ceremony and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar would himself be present for the all the three days.
The event, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi and the National School of Drama, is expected to host people from over 155 countries.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who was recently named in the Padma awardees list said: “The World Culture Festival emphasises on co-existence, demonstrating the power of peace by bringing millions of people together. It is an opportunity for world leaders from cultural, social, political, business fields to come together to rekindle human values in the pursuit of happiness and peace,”
In recent times Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been playing the role of a reformist and modern spiritual leader. He willingly took up the role of being a mediator on the issue of gender bias at Maharashtra’s Shani Shingnapur temple. Ravi Shankar said, “It is agreed that no one – man or woman – will step on the sacred Chabutara at the Shanti temple where oil is constantly poured as it can result in possible skidding. The temple trustees present at the meeting agreed with Ravi Shankar’s formula based on the Tirupati Balaji darshan model
