Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's World Culture Festival: Day 2 schedule

New Delhi: Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's extravaganza event 'World Culture Festival', which kicked-started on Friday, was attended by thousands of people and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The mega event will continue to enthral the audience with its cultural heritage programs on Saturday.

Today Art of Living will organise Global Leadership Forum which would begin at 10:00 am and will go on till 1:30 pm.

From 5 pm onwards interfaith-meet, cultural celebrations, keynote speeches, meditation will continue.

The noted spiritual guru today tweeted:

161 countries watched the live webcast of the World Culture Festival from over 100,000 unique locations.

— Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (@SriSri) March 12, 2016

The monitors, sound system & lights did not work properly yesterday. Concerned person has promised it will be better today.

— Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (@SriSri) March 12, 2016

While attending the program, PM Modi told Indians to be proud of their cultural heritage and heaped praise on Sri Sri's saying he had "introduced" India to the world but made no reference to the raging row over environmental concerns surrounding it.

Thunder showers played a bit of spoil sport. The evening rain showers affecting TV screens, people could not see the Prime Minister and Art of Living founder while they spoke on the occasion.

With controversies dogging the event, President Pranab Mukherjee pulled out of the valedictory session on Sunday. Former French prime minister Dominique Villepin, Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa, UAE's Cultural Minister Al Nahayan were among the foreign dignitaries, who were present on the occasion.

Some of the foreigners carried their national flags at the cultural event. Pakistani participants, who were near the stage, were waiving their huge national flag.

Addressing the gathering, Sri Sri asked the participants to “Keep smiling and face all challenges with courage." He said, "It is such a beautiful occasion.”

"Yes, this is a private party, because the entire world is my family," Sri Sri said, appearing to respond to a controversy over government's help and funding for his event.