Celebrating Humanity: World Culture Festival 2016

Celebrating 35 years of service, spirituality and human values and most importantly to give the message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the Art of Living Foundation is all set to organise the World Culture Festival 2016- a unique three-day event to be held from March 11 to 13 on the west bank of Yamuna flood plains.

The festival, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi next month, will bring together people from different cultures, nations and faiths- to imbibe the message of peace and kindness. President Pranab Mukherjee will be the chief guest for the closing ceremony on March 13.

This festival is being supported by Ministry of Culture, Government of India, National School of Drama, Sangeet Natak Academy, Delhi Government, Lalit Kala Academy and several other cultural organisations.

Also, half a dozen ministers from PM Modi's government, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and former Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani are expected to speak at the festival.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of the Art of Living movement, has highlighted that World Culture Festival 2016 (WFC) will emphasize on co-existence and bespeak the power of peace as the event will witness the coming together of millions of people to reaffirm human values. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar would be conducting the mass 'Peace Meditation' on all three days of the event.

While various media reports have been doing the rounds ever since the humanitarian organisation announced the event, Twitter saw the hashtag #35yrsofArtofliving trending today since morning suggesting that the countdown for the mega event has started.

"A 7-acre stage set in a 1000 acre venue that will bring leaders from all spheres of life together! 35973 performers from 24 countries will enthrall the audience with 23 traditional art forms over a period of three days," the website of the organisation states.

The Art of Living Foundation is a volunteer-based, humanitarian and educational non-governmental organizations (NGO) founded in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

It offers unique programs to enhance an individual's true potential focusing on meditation, encourage good health, and uphold ancient values. The Art of Living Foundation is spread over 156 countries and is considered the world's largest volunteer-based NGO.