Art of Living’s World Culture Festival 2016 – All you need to know about the mega event

Art of Living’s World Culture Festival 2016 will celebrate diversities by laying an emphasis on peaceful co-existence

Mumbai: Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living will celebrate 35 years of service to humanity, spirituality and human values by organising a  3-day mega cultural event - World Culture Festival 2016 (from March 11 to 12, 2016) - in Delhi.

The event aims at spreading the ethos of ‘VasudhaivaKutumbakam’ – 'The World is one Family' by laying an emphasis on peaceful co-existence.

The event will demonstrate the power of peace by bringing 3.5 million people from around the world together.

Varied cultures from across the globe will unite to be part of the music and arts platform spread over an area of 7 acres.

Over 37,000 artists are expected to perform at the festival which includes 8,000 musicians playing 40 instruments in a Musical Symphony, 650 drummers from South Africa and several tribal artists from Indian states such as Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Sikkim and others.

 “With the World Culture Festival, we hope to foster deeper understanding between people of different faiths, nationalities and backgrounds. By showcasing rich cultural traditions of dance, music and art from around the world as well as Yoga, this festival will be a unique platform for spiritual and religious gurus, politicians, peacemakers and artists to spread the message of global peace and harmony in diversity,” Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder, The Art of Living, said.

Chairman of the World Culture Festival Organizing Committee and VVKI trust, Commodore Sarvotham Rao, said, “The World Culture Festival will be a one-of-its-kind experience which will have a majestic gathering of 3.5 million people where everyone will unite as one big family. The festival aims to bring to the forefront age-old values and traditions that are today, fast disappearing. Thousands of years old heritage of yoga and Ayurveda will play a central role in the festival through performances, information booths and ‘join-in’ sessions.”

A very special highlight of the festival will be a ‘Peace meditation’ led by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar which will be held on all three days of the festival.

Here are the highlights:

•          Over 33,000 people will perform at the festival in 3 days

•          In the Grand Musical Symphony 40 instruments will be played together

•          The Global Leadership Forum, co-hosted by the World Forum of Ethics in Business and The Art of Living Foundation in New Delhi on the 12th and 13th March 2016 will bring together senior leaders from business, government, politics, science, NGOs, faith-based organizations, sports, academia and media to reflect on the paradigms of leadership needed to manoeuvre the world of today

•          World’s largest stage-WCF will witness the world’s largest stage set up over an area of 7 acres.       This will be an attempt to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for the ‘Largest temporary stage’ in the world

•          Size of the venue- The total area of the venue would cover 1000 acres

•          More than 20,000 international guests are expected. Sizable contingents from South America, Mongolia, Russia, U.S., Europe, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Pakistan among others.

•          Revival of tribal art forms - WCF will revive some of the tribal art forms from India from states such as Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Sikkim among others

•          World’s largest Peace meditation- This will be the first time in the world that 3.5 million people will meditate for world peace on all three days at one physical location. Millions will also participate virtually

•          3 Padma awardees will be training participants in Bharatanatyam.

•          650 drummers will arrive from South Africa

•         Kathak performances choreographed by legendary Pt Birju Maharaj