Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living and the City of Washington DC will co-host the Olympic-scale festival at the iconic National Mall in September this year.
At a time when political, territorial, and sectarian divides are convulsing the world, spiritual leaders can function as bridges and be a calming influence.
Global spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar implied as much announcing the World Culture Festival in Washington DC. “This festival is an occasion for people to come together and celebrate each other’s differences. It is the need of the hour, to bring people together in celebration and to spread the message of peace and to say that we are one human family,” he said at a news conference on May 18 in the US capital.
Holding the fourth edition of the World Culture Festival in Washington DC will send a message to the whole planet as “there is so much need for awareness about the importance of non-violence and creating peace and (resolving) mental health issues,” the Art of Living founder, global humanitarian and peace ambassador added.
The Art of Living (AOL) is co-hosting the mega event with the city of Washington DC.
“Washington DC is the perfect city to bring people together from around the globe,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser.
“We are a city that celebrates diversity and inclusivity, a global city, a welcoming city, and a city that loves visitors. We know that Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s message that ‘diversity is the beauty of creation’ aligns with our DC values. So, we invite people to plan their visits, and we’ll see you in the fall!”
The three-day event will be held from September 29 to October 1 and organizers expect more than 150,000 people to participate, coming from all over the world. Early buzz about the event has already inspired 50,000 people to register to attend, IANS news agency reported.
The festival will be packed with cultural performances and culinary offerings from around the world — including dancers and performers from India, China, and Ukraine. Many world leaders have already committed their presence and participation such as former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former Indian Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu.
The Art of Living is bringing the festival for the first time to the US after the previous three iterations were held in Bengaluru (2006), Berlin (2011), and New Delhi (2016). More than seven million people attended these events altogether, according to AOL.
National Mall, the festival venue, is home to the Washington Monument, Memorials to Presidents Jefferson, Lincoln, and FDR as well as civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.
AOL has helped millions of people worldwide find peace and resilience in the face of adversity, learning not only how to excel in their own lives, but also how to become powerful agents for social change. AOL also creates trauma relief and meditation programs for at-risk youth, war veterans, prisoners, and survivors of disasters.
The Art of Living Foundation is a volunteer-based, humanitarian, and educational NGO. It has centers in 180 countries offering stress-elimination and self-development programs based on breathing techniques, meditation, and yoga.
US President Joe Biden approves AOL’s credentials: “[Art of Living] has an incredible following that cuts through all religions, cultures, and backgrounds, a very difficult thing to do in today’s world.”
