Washington D.C. to Host World Culture Festival 2023
A global celebration of diversity, culture, and the human spirit comes to the National Mall this Fall
Washington, D.C. – Today District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser joined global humanitarian and peacemaker Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of Art of Living, to announce that the World Culture Festival will come to the United States for an unforgettable, historic three-day celebration honoring humanity’s culture, diversity, and unity. Hosted by The Art of Living Foundation, the awe-inspiring global festival will take place in Washington, D.C. from September 29 through October 1, 2023 on the historic National Mall.
Visitors from every corner of the globe will travel to the U.S. capital to be a part of the World Culture Festival, honoring our rich human diversity expressed through music, art, food, dance, meditation and inspirational talks. This landmark event will bring the world together in celebration to uplift the human spirit and reaffirm a collective commitment to peace and unity.
The World Culture Festival was most recently held in New Delhi in 2016. There were 3.75 million attendees from 155 countries. (Photo credit: Art of Living)
“In a world which is so polarized, divided and despondent, it is time for us to come together in celebration, where we appreciate the rich diversity on this planet,” said Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. “It’s high time we recognize we are a one world family.”
In its fourth iteration, the World Culture Festival in Washington, D.C. will be an Olympic-scale celebration, with expected participation from over 180 countries. Thousands of diverse artists have already committed to participate and announcements about the festival’s programming schedule will be made later this spring.
In addition, the lineup will also feature prominent international world leaders coordinated by the event’s Reception Committee led by Ban Ki-moon, the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, and including multiple current and former heads of states, members of the United States Congress, and a range of spiritual and faith leaders.
Registration and ticket information for the fall festival in Washington, D.C. can be found at www.worldculturefest.org. Details about an in-person press event in Washington, D.C. will be available soon. Please direct all inquiries to WCF2023@lindarothpr.com for further information.
WATCH: Mayor Muriel Bowser shares her excitement that Washington, D.C. will welcome the world for World Culture Festival 2023.
WATCH: Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar invites the world to join World Culture Festival 2023 and shares his vision that in coming together to celebrate as a one world family, we uplift the human spirit.
PAST WORLD CULTURE FESTIVALS:
Bangalore (2006): 2.5 million attendees including 3,800 musicians and performers, 750 political and business leaders, alongside 1,000 spiritual and religious figures.
Berlin (2011): 70,000 attendees from 151 countries including 6,000 artists and dignitaries including ministers and members of parliament.
New Delhi (2016): 3.75 million attendees from 155 countries including 36,603 artists and 2,500 religious and spiritual leaders from Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, Zoroastrian, Islamic, Jain, Native American, and Tribal faiths.
MEDIA ACCESS:
World Culture Festival 2023 welcomes press outlets from Washington, D.C. and around the world to cover the weekend's festivities. We are happy to provide approved members of the media with exclusive access. Please check back soon as applications for media will be available this spring. Reach out to WCF2023@lindarothpr.com with any questions or for pre-event interview opportunities.
MEDIA RESOURCES:
World Culture Festival Compilation Video (Video Credit: Art of Living)
Past World Culture Festival Photos from 2016 and 2011 (Photo Credit: Art of Living)
#WCF2023: Official Hashtag for World Culture Festival 2023
About Art of Living Foundation
Operating in 180 countries, The Art of Living Foundation (AOLF) is a non-profit, educational and humanitarian organization founded in 1981 by the renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. All of AOLF’s programs are inspired by Gurudev’s philosophy of creating world peace through a stress-free and violence-free society. AOLF has touched over 800 million lives through numerous 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 individuals.
About Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a global humanitarian, spiritual leader, and peace envoy. He 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.
Gurudev has created trauma-relief and meditation programs for at-risk youth, war veterans, prisoners and survivors of disaster. He has also created numerous 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 individuals.
Standing for the Gandhian principles of non-violence, Gurudev has mediated and progressed negotiations for peace in conflict-stricken areas such as Sri Lanka, Iraq, Venezuela, and Colombia, where he is credited for playing a central role in ending the violent 52-year conflict between FARC and the Colombian government. He has received 39 governmental awards, including highest civilian awards from several nations. Twenty-four universities have awarded him with honorary doctorates for his peace-keeping and humanitarian efforts.
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