World Cultural Festival

2021-06-28T14:16:05Z

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{{POV|date=March 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2016}}

[[File:Artists' green room at WCF.jpg|thumb|Rajasthani Artists' green room at the World Cultural Festival 2016 held in New Delhi.]]
[[File:Argentinean Performers at WCF.jpg|thumb|Argentinean Performers on the World Cultural Festival's stage.]]

'''World Cultural Festival (WCF)''' was held on the [[Yamuna]] floodplains in [[New Delhi]] from 11–13 March 2016.<ref name=":0">{{citation |title=As it happened: 'This is the Kumbh Mela of culture' |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/live-art-of-livings-world-culture-festival/article8342013.ece |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=11 March 2016 }}</ref> It was organised by [[Ravi Shankar (spiritual leader)|Ravi Shankar]] to celebrate the [[Art of Living Foundation]]’s 35 years in service.<ref>{{citation|title=LIVE: Watch - Art of Living's World Culture Festival 2016– Day 3|date=13 March 2016|url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/and-more/live-watch-art-of-living-s-world-culture-festival-2016-day-3_1865212.html|work=[[Zee News]]}}</ref> It was reported to have been attended by 3.5 million people in audience and 37,000 artists over 3 days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.star2.com/living/viewpoints/2016/03/30/the-world-culture-festival-was-a-sight-to-behold/|title=The World Culture Festival was a sight to behold|date=2016-03-30|website=Star2.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-20}}</ref> The performances were held on a 100 feet tall by 1,200 feet wide stage with an area of seven acres.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/art-of-living-stage-finally-dismantled/article8477721.ece|title=Art of Living stage finally dismantled|last=Perappadan|first=Bindu Shajan|date=2016-04-15|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-12-20|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Initially, around 1,700 officials were deployed for traffic management for the World Cultural Festival and around 300 were on standby for the other events to be held during the same time.<ref>{{citation|title=Sri Sri's World Culture Festival and rain choke Delhi roads|date=12 March 2016|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sri-sris-world-culture-festival-and-rain-choke-delhi-roads/1/618260.html|work=[[Mail Today]]}}</ref> Another festival by the same name was also held by this foundation at [[Olympiastadion (Berlin)|Berlin Olympic Stadium]] in 2011.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jacobs|first=Stephen|date=2014-10-01|title=Inner Peace and Global Harmony: Individual Wellbeing and Global Solutions in the Art of Living|journal=Culture Unbound: Journal of Current Cultural Research|language=EN|volume=6|issue=4|pages=873–889|doi=10.3384/cu.2000.1525.146873|issn=2000-1525|doi-access=free}}</ref>

The 2016 event was chaired by Justice [[Ramesh Chandra Lahoti|RC Lahoti]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/sri-sri-ravi-shankars-world-culture-festival-things-to-look-out-for/|title=Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's World Culture Festival: Things to look out for|date=2016-03-11|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2018-12-20}}</ref> Dr. [[Boutros Boutros-Ghali]] from [[United Nations]] was also listed as a co-chair for the event but he died prior to the event. Some other committee members included former Dutch Prime Minister [[Ruud Lubbers]]; [[Nancy Pelosi]], [[Katherine Clark]] and [[Ed Whitfield|Ed Witfield]] from United States Congress; and former Lithuanian president [[Vytautas Landsbergis]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-art-of-living-announces-world-culture-fest-to-be-held-in-march-2016-2147617|title=Art of Living announces World Culture Fest to be held in March 2016|date=2015-11-22|website=dna|language=en|access-date=2018-12-20}}</ref> It was attended by various global and local religious and political leaders.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/photos/business-gallery/224594/art-of-living-event-global-leaders-hail-sri-sri-ravi-shankars-world-culture-festival/|title=Art of Living event: Global leaders hail Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's World Culture Festival|date=2016-03-14|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-20}}</ref> Participants included former French Prime Minister [[Dominique de Villepin]], Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister [[Kamal Thapa]], Vice-President of Suriname [[Ashwin Adhin]] and [[Karu Jayasuriya]] from the Sri Lankan Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/120316/foreign-nationals-including-80-from-pakistan-participate-in-art-of-living-fest.html|title=Foreign nationals, including 80 from Pakistan, participate in Art of Living fest|date=2016-03-12|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2018-12-20}}</ref> Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] was also in audience and compared the festival to a [[Kumbh Mela|“kumbh mela”]] of art.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/world-culture-festival-sri-sri-ravi-shankar-art-of-living-narendra-modi-yamuna-festival-ngt/|title=If we damn ourselves, why will world take note of us: PM Modi at Sri Sri's World Culture Festival|date=2016-03-12|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2018-12-20}}</ref> Other Indian leaders including [[Rajnath Singh]], [[Sushma Swaraj]], [[Shivraj Singh Chouhan]], [[Devendra Fadnavis]], [[Raman Singh]] and [[Manish Sisodia]] attended the event on 12 March 2016.<ref>{{citation |title=Top Union Ministers, NDA CMs attend World Cultural Festival |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-top-union-ministers-nda-cms-attend-world-cultural-festival-2188668 |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |date=12 March 2016 }}</ref> The last day of the event was attended by many [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] leaders including [[Arun Jaitley]], [[Ravi Shankar Prasad]], [[Venkaiah Naidu]], Lok Sabha Speaker [[Sumitra Mahajan]] and Delhi Chief Minister [[Arvind Kejriwal]].<ref>{{citation |title=Don't Politicise Such Events, Says Sri Sri As World Culture Festival Ends |url=http://ndtv.com/india-news/dont-politicise-such-events-says-sri-sri-as-world-culture-festival-ends-1286783 |work=[[NDTV]] |date=14 March 2016 }}</ref>

The event was also promoted as an interfaith meet and attended by religious leaders like Rev. Dr. Gerald L. Durley, Dr. [[Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun]], Mufti Mohammed Saeed Khan, Shankaracharya Vasudevanand Saraswati among others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2016/04/the-world-culture-festival-isnt-crony-spiritualism/|title=The World Culture Festival Isn't 'Crony Spiritualism'|last=Kakr|first=Sanjiv|website=The Diplomat|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-20}}</ref>

The festival was highly criticized in the Indian news media for environmental reasons.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35770615|title=Why India's huge 'spiritual' festival has run into trouble|date=2016-03-10|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-12-20|language=en-GB}}</ref> The foundation was involved in a legal battle with the [[National Green Tribunal]] (NGT), which allowed the festival to be held after a fine of {{INRConvert|5|c}}.<ref>{{citation |title=Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu backs Art of Living's world cultural festival |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/union-minister-venkaiah-naidu-backs-art-of-livings-world-cultural-festival/articleshow/51355011.cms |newspaper=[[The Economic Times]] |date=11 March 2016 }}</ref> The [[Art of Living Foundation]] questioned the findings by the tribunal and has since then submitted a plea in the [[Supreme Court of India]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/art-of-living-questions-expert-panels-yamuna-floodplains-findings/articleshow/58686199.cms|title=Art of Living questions expert panel's Yamuna floodplains findings|date=2017-05-15|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-04-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/vhbDlcUkWuc1ysStChZRjK/SC-notice-on-plea-against-fine-on-Art-of-Living-for-damage-t.html|title=SC notice on plea against environment compensation imposed on Art of Living for damage to Yamuna floodplains|last=Mittal|first=Priyanka|date=2018-02-02|website=Mint|language=en|access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/172249164/|title=Vyakti Vikas Kendra India vs Manoj Misra on 5 September, 2018|website=indiankanoon.org|access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref> President [[Pranab Mukherjee]] declined to attend the event after first accepting the invitation due to concerns about environment law violations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/after-environment-row-president-pranab-mukherjee-pulls-out-of-sri-sris-mega-event-312157-2016-03-07|title=After environment row, President Pranab Mukherjee pulls out of Sri Sri's mega event|last=DelhiMarch 7|first=IndiaToday in New|last2=March 7|first2=2016UPDATED|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2018-12-20|last3=Ist|first3=2016 17:54}}</ref> Zimbabwe President [[Robert Mugabe]] also pulled out of the event citing security and protocol issues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit-m-mugabe-must-resign-over-india-trip-newsday-zimbabwe/|title=Mugabe must resign over India trip|website=www.zimbabwesituation.com|access-date=2018-12-20|date=15 March 2016}}</ref> A separate enclosure had to be constructed for Narendra Modi also due to a security threat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/cheat-sheet/sri-sri-must-pay-100-crores-for-damage-says-green-panel-10-developments-1285225|title=Sri Sri Event Cleared With 5 Crore Fine And Separate Enclosure For PM|website=NDTV.com|access-date=2016-03-15}}</ref>

Australian Prime Minister [[Malcolm Turnbull]] invited Art of Living Foundation to Australia for the next World Culture Festival.<ref name=":1" />

== External links ==
* [https://www.srisriravishankar.org/the-world-culture-festival-2016/ Event Website]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Festivals in Delhi]]
[[Category:2016 in India]]

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World Cultural Festival