2016 World Culture Festival Draws to a Close

One World Family is More Than Just a Dream

The 2016 World Culture Festival (WCF) took place along the banks of the Yamuna River in New Delhi, India. During the opening ceremony, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that people are not only connected in terms of economics, but also in terms of culture. He also said that through Art of Living, the world has come to know India and that this event is the cultural world’s equivalent of Kumbh Mela (an important Hindu festival in India). WCF was organized by Art of Living Foundation, founded by renowned Indian spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. It brought together 3.5 million people from 127 countries, including the Prime Minister of India and high-ranking government officials from other countries, as well as more than 2000 business leaders, to share their insights on world peace, love and harmony. In can be said that this was the largest and most diverse event in history. In the latter half of last year, the Indian government developed a 1,000 acre plot of unused land in New Delhi for this festival. It included the world’s largest performance stage, measuring some 7.5 acres, equivalent to six soccer fields.

Nearly 10,000 artists from Asia, Europe, North America and Africa also appeared on stage. Ethnic Chinese singers from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore were invited to jointly perform Tomorrow Will Be Better, sending out wishes for world peace in Chinese. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is devoted to improving impoverished lives through the art of living, while Dharma Master Hsin Tao is working to promote inner peace to transform the poverty of the mind and spirit. Both have appeared together at many international peace events. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar traveled to Taiwan to personally invite Dharma Master Hsin Tao to participate in the WCF. Walking the road toward peace is difficult and arduous, but if there is peace in your heart, there is peace in the world! If we all continue to walk the path of love and peace, tomorrow will be better all around the world. In his speech, Dharma Master Hsin Tao also emphasized that love and peace are our common language. Pluralism is our eternal undertaking. He called on everyone to work together to show concern for the earth through love and peace and achieve a pluralistic peace to allow love and peace to exist everywhere and to bring about harmony, peace and safety. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar greeted the crowd of millions in Chinese: "Wo ai ni, xie xie!" (which means "I love you and thank you!"). This sparked excitement among the audience members. Dharma Master Hsin Tao went on to say that leadership ability comes from love and mercy. Security at the event was tight. Although there were times when it hailed and thunderstorms turned the venue into mud, there was also good weather and the appearance of a double rainbow. On the stage, colossal performances by artists from around the world went off without a hitch. The Art of Living volunteers were well trained and helped to smoothly bring the event to a close. Without leadership ability, there would be no love or mercy, nor a willingness to organize such a large event.

Dharma Master Hsin Tao noted that Ling Jiou Mountain and The Art of Living Foundation are partners in the promotion of world peace. Dharma Master Hsin Tao established the Museum of World Religions in Taiwan based on the concept of “respect for all faiths, tolerance for all cultures, love for all life”. Orphaned as a child during fighting in Myanmar, he is now in the process of building a life and peace university in that country. The objective of this university is to cultivate high-level world peace. His ideas amazed many of the festival attendees. Dharma Master Hsin Tao noted that to advance the concepts of love and peace, it is only necessary to overcome difficulties, take action and have confidence. This is not unlike the Art of Living Foundation, established 35 years ago by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, which organized the WCF. The achievements of these events will be of global influence. He supports Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s efforts to disseminate the concepts of love and peace through WCF. This is the beginning of peace that comes from One World Family.

Tens of thousands of performers from various countries were invited to the festival. Ten thousand musicians playing 40 types of instruments created the world’s largest symphony. Nearly 20,000 dancers performed Indian classical dances that were once only heard of in history books such as Kuchupudi, Kathak, Garba, Odishi, Ghoomer, Mohiniattam, Bharatnatyam and Bhangra. In addition, thousands sang Rabindra Sangeet and played Dhol drums. They were joined on stage by folk dancers from the Chhattisgarth Plain, all in all presenting long-standing art forms of India.

leaders and to allow peace and love to take root in the minds and spirits of the students, so that they become like seeds spreading love and peace in the future. In the initial stage, students will be trained in charitable works, medical treatment, agricultural reform and technology. There will also be programs for orphans. In the initial stage, 200 orphans will be admitted in the hope of allowing the concepts of love and peace to take root at a young age, so that in the future they can spread globally. 

Some people have said that the 2016 WCF was Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's private party. To this he responded, "Yes! Indeed! That is because the whole world is my family." This accurately expresses the One World Family concept. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar pointed out that when you want to fulfill great dreams, many obstacles will appear. This means that you are doing something that other people don't even dare to dream of. When those obstacles are overcome, the results are sweet. When we all become one family, there will be no differences in language or action. There will be no distinctions among people. This is spirituality! Spirituality brings ubiquitous well-being. It needs to be disseminated to very corner of the globe. This is a collective goal. It is the reason why so many people have gathered for this festival. Although it is difficult to use language to express ourselves, when we give society or give the world love and a sense of belonging, we receive 100 times the love in return. This is the concept of "life is a celebration" of Art of Living, which is revealed in the depth and meaning of diverse art forms in different countries and regions. In this age of increasing globalization and rapid economic growth, discovery and preservation of long-lasting local cultures are of extraordinary significance and value.

This event, the largest world culture festival in history, was a call to action to the world's peoples to show concern for their living environment and the people around them, and through knowledge, culture, art, music and social service to disseminate the concepts of love and peace around the world. 

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