In a time of turmoil, humanitarian and spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to lead global leadership forum and international cultural event
The Art of Living Foundation, a non-profit, education and humanitarian organization, announced today that New Delhi will host the World Culture Festival, March 11-13, 2016, marking its 35th year of humanitarian service. The World Culture Festival is expected to attract more than 3.5 million people from 155 countries. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, international spiritual leader, world-renown philanthropist and founder of The Art of Living Foundation will gather high-level dignitaries from the U.S. and across the world to facilitate intercultural dialogue on achieving world peace.
“We are a part of one humanity and we express ourselves differently, but celebrating our diverse cultures binds us together and expands our perspectives,” said Art of Living founder, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. “This event will demonstrate the power of peace and is an opportunity for world leaders from social, political and business fields to come together and renew their vision to work towards the welfare of society.”
The year of 2015 has been met with violence, mistrust and uncertainty around the world. The World Culture Festival serves as a platform to showcase how a medley of world cultures can coexist peacefully. The three-day celebration will open with a one-of-a kind peace meditation, setting a new record for largest mediation gathering ever. The concert stage will host more than 10,000 artists who will play 40 traditional instruments in a never before seen symphony collaboration. The World Culture Festival will also host an all-inclusive inter-faith meeting where international spiritual and religious leaders will participate in discussions on global concerns.
Lastly, the Global Leadership Forum will occur on the second and third day of the event and will bring together leaders from varied backgrounds such as business, government, politics, sports, science, NGOs, spiritual and religious organizations, media and academia. Eminent personalities including U.S. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, U.S. House Rep. Katherine Clark, Congressman Ed Whitfield, former Chief Justice of India R.C. Lahoti, sixth Secretary General of the United Nations Boutros Boutros-Ghali and former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Ruud Lubbers are part of the reception committee for this historic event.
The Art of Living Foundation is a non-profit, educational and humanitarian organization founded in 1981 by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The last international gathering hosted by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was in 2011, the 30th anniversary of the organization. The event was marked by an estimated 50,000 people from across 151 countries gathering to meditate with the sole aim of promoting peace and harmony in the world from Berlin’s Olympic stadium. Similarly, in 2006, 2.5 million people gathered in Bangalore for Art of Living Foundation’s 25th year celebration. Ten years later, the dream of creating a one world family that is stress-free and violence-free is bigger and closer to reality.
In cooperation with travel agencies attractive travel packages are being offered which provide the opportunity to visit the World Culture Festival together with inspiring destinations in India. For further information on the World Culture Festival and on the travel packages please visit: https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/world-culture-festival or the event Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages.
About The Art of Living Foundation:
Operating in 152 countries, The Art of Living Foundation (AOLF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3), educational and humanitarian organization founded in 1981 by the world-renown philanthropist and spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. All of AOLF's programs are guided by Gurudev's philosophy: "Unless we have a stress-free mind and a violence-free society, we cannot achieve world peace." The AOLF community is diverse and attracts people from all walks of life backgrounds and religious orientations. AOLF offers numerous highly effective educational and self-development programs and tools that facilitate the elimination of stress and foster deep and profound inner peace, happiness and well-being for all individuals. These programs, which include breathing techniques, meditation, Yoga, and practical wisdom for daily living, have helped millions around the world to completely transform their lives. Visit artofliving.org to learn more.
About Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a humanitarian leader, a spiritual teacher, and an ambassador of peace. His vision of a stress-free, violence-free society has united millions of people through service projects and the courses he has developed. Gurudev has rekindled the traditions of Yoga and meditation into a form that works in the 21st century. By reviving ancient wisdom, Gurudev has created new techniques for personal and social transformation, including a powerful technique called Sudarshan Kriya® which has helped millions of people to find relief from stress and discover inner reservoirs of energy and peace in daily life. Gurudev plays a key role in conflict resolution, spreading his vision of non-violence at public forums and gatherings worldwide, and is regarded as a neutral figure with peace as his sole agenda, representing hope to people in conflict. He is credited with bringing hostile parties to the negotiating table in Iraq, the Ivory Coast, Kashmir, and Bihar. He has also developed and led programs that provide assistance to people from a wide range of backgrounds—victims of natural disasters, survivors of terror attacks and war, children from marginalized populations, communities in conflict, among others. The power of his message has inspired a wave of service based on spirituality through a huge body of volunteers who drive these projects forward in critical areas around the globe. In just three decades, his programs and initiatives have touched the lives of over 370 million people in 152 countries. Gurudev was named one of the five most powerful people in India by Forbes India, and has been honored by the UN and Governments across the world for his unprecedented and tireless journey in uniting the world in peace, joy and celebration. He has been invited as a keynote speaker at numerous global forums, including the European Parliament, the United Nations, UNESCO and the World Economic Forum. Visit srisriravishankar.org to learn more.