The World Culture Festival in Berlin
Olympiastadion Berlin 2nd & 3rd July 2011
Grand Celebration in Olympiastadion
An unforgettable Celebration of dance, music, dialogue and meditation.
World Continents Pavilions
Experience the cultural heritage of Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Americas and Europe in four wonderful pavilions.
Yoga Park
The evolution of Yoga from ancient sages to its global application in the 21st century.

THE WORLD CULTURE FESTIVAL

An Unforgettable Peace Festival with Dance, Music, Yoga and Food

Celebrating Diversity for a peaceful tomorrow

The World Culture Festival in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of The International Art of Living Foundation. This unique event will host more than 70.000 participants from over 150 countries who will take home unique sights, sounds and tastes and the mesmerizing variety of the world continents in one place!

The Grand Celebration in the Olympiastadion Berlin as well as the World Pavilions will be showcasing through dance, music, food, literature and conferences the beauty of all World Cultures: The Festival will honour the norms and values of various cultures while celebrating harmony in diversity!

The Yoga Park will allow participants to experience the powerful impact of Yoga as a way to improve physical and mental health as well as to create inner peace. Welcome to Berlin!


"30 years of the Art of Living: A big milestone with many achievements, inspiring us to move forward with greater speed and greater enthusiasm. The dream to make life a celebration and the world a family has materialized and become a reality.

Millions of volunteers who have worked with such enthusiasm and love will continue to inspire millions more, reach out to all those areas where we have not reached and wipe all those tears that are yet there.

The 30th anniversary is a celebration of achievement and a vision to do more service.."
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Reception Committee

Prof. Ruud Lubbers
Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Prof. Vytautas Landsbergis
Former Prime Minister of Lithuania
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Akgündüz
President Islamic University Rotterdam
Mr. Danny Davis
Hon. Congressman, US Congress
Ms. Monika Griefahn
Board Member, Right Livelihood Award
Judge Gabrielle Kirk McDonald
Former President International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia - The Hague
Mr. Ram Labhaya Lakhina
Founder, President The Netherlands India Chamber of Commerce and Trade (NICCT), Chairman Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Foundation
Dr. Mihail Mihailov
Member of Bulgarian Parliament
Mr. Christopher Pinto
President Iran-US Claims Tribunal
Mr. Madhu Rao
CEO Shangri-La Hotel Group International
Rabbi David Rosen
International Director of Interreligious Affairs, American Jewish Committee
Prof. Dr. Gesine Schwan
founder Humboldt-Viadrina School of Governance
Mr. Josef Winkler
Member of German Parliament, Board Member Green Party
Mr. Jacques Santer
Former Prime Minister Luxemburg, Former President of the European Commission
Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal
Minister for Coal, Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India
Dr. Thuwayba Al Barwani
Dean, Sultan Qaboos University
Mr. Nirj Deva
Member of the European Parliament
Mrs. Erna Hennicot-Schoepges
Former Minister of Culture, Rapporteur to the European Parliament for the Year of Intercultural Dialogue
Ms. Indu Jain
Chairperson, Times of India Group; Bennett, Coleman & Co
Mrs. Jolanta Kwasniewska
Former First Lady of Poland
Ms. Erika Mann,
Former Member of the European Parliament
Mrs. Nancy Pelosi
Hon. Congresswoman, US Congress
Mr. Mike Quigley
Hon. Congressman, US Congress
Mr. Peleg Reshef
Director, the Future Generations Division, World Jewish Congress
Mrs. Jan Schakowsky
Hon. Congresswoman, US Congress
Rabbi Awraham Soetendrop
Former President of the European region of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, Dutch chair if the Solidarity Committee for Jews
Mr. Vladislav G. Yurchick
Member of the Russian Federation Parliament, and Permanent Representative of Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the EurAsEC (Eurasian Economic Community)


Messages


Sri Praful Patel
Minister of state for civil aviation, Government of India
"I am glad to know that on its 30th Anniversary the International Art of Living Foundation is organizing 'The World Culture Festival' in Berlin on 2ndand 3rdJuly, 2011.

For the past three decades, the Art of Living Foundation has done yeoman service to humanity through its community welfare projects, breathing workshops and other programmes bringing about a profound transformation in the lives of millions of people. This Festival will bring together leaders, renowned personalities, peacemakers and other participants from across the world to create a unique platform to spread the message of peace, unity and harmony amidst all the diversity.

On this occasion I convey my best wishes to H H Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji, the Founder of the Art of Living Foundation and wish the World Culture Festival a grand success."
Prof. Gesine Schwan
Founder Humboldt-Viadrina School of Governance
"I highly appreciate the tremendous work towards conflict resolution, peace and intercultural dialogue, that the International Art of Living Foundation has facilitated in the last 30 years not only in Asia but in 150 countries in the world. I see it to be very timely, that the World Culture Festival, which aims to foster harmony in diversity and the dialogue between cultures, comes in a time to Berlin, in which integration of different cultures and intercultural harmony is one of the most important issues. I hearty congratulate the International Art of Living Foundation to its 30th anniversary and welcome the World Culture Festival and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to Berlin, the historic bridge between East and West."
Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal
Minister for Coal, Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India
"I am pleased to know that the Art of Living Foundation is planning to organize an event in Berlin in March 2011 to mark the thirty glodous years of its existence. The Foundation has been playing a defining role in the lives of the millions of people all over the world. Though the Foundation has its genesis in India, it has been spreading the message of good health, harmony in diversity and espousing inter-cultural dialogue in more than 151 countries around the world. I am happy to note the names of several luminaries contributing their mite as members of the Reception Committee for the Art of Living Foundation. I am sure the event would be a rip-roaring success with leaders, peacemakers and renowned personalities from all walks of life making a spirited contribution.

I wish the Art of Living Foundation grows from strength to strength and spreads its divine message for many more years to come."
Monika Griefahn
Board Member, Right Livelihood Award
"Having attended the Conference on Human Values during the 25th Anniversary of the Art of Living Foundation in Bangalore where 2,5 Million people joined the celebration, I have closely observed the work of the International Art of Living Foundation and its Founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar during the last view years. I am highly impressed by the all-inclusive approach towards peace building and intercultural dialogue as the Foundation not only promotes health and wellbeing through Yoga but translates its efforts into outstanding results in the humanitarian field. Its wonderful and timely that on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Organization the World Culture Festival will be held in Berlin and will allow participants from around the world to come together in mutual respect and appreciation."
Dr. M. Veerappa Moily
Minister of Law & Justice, Government of India
"I am very glad to know that the International Art of Living Foundation is celebrating The World Culture Festival on 2ndand 3rdJuly, 2011 in Berlin. I appreciate the services being rendered by "The Art of Living" organization towards creating a progressive spiritual and humane world by transforming human lives. It is heartening to learn that the organization has done excellent job during the last 30 years towards achieving its wonderful goal 'One World - One Family', which has fostered a sense of belongingness among the people of different cultures.

I wish the event a grand success."
Erika Mann
Former Member of the European Parliament
"The Art of Living Foundation will organize in 2011 in Berlin a World Culture Festival. This is not the first time that the Art of Living Foundation will organize such kind of event but it will be the first time in Europe - and there couldn't be a better place than Berlin! The idea to show that culture is a way of life for all of us; that national traditions call very well live with international border less goals and ideas; that spiritual desires transcend religious thinking; and that our modern world continuous to be a place of wonder and excitement despite critical developments in many areas. It will be an event full of fun, seriousness and ideas and I am looking forward to be part of it."
Sri Vilasrao Deshmukh
Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Government of India.
"It is a pleasure to note that Art of Living is celebrating their 30 years in Berlin. I am pleased to be invited to the World Culture Festival and congratulate the organisation.

The founder H H Sri Sri Ravishankar has worked in 150 countries and through his mission spread love, compassion and peace in the society.

My best wishes to the Art of Living for creating harmony in diversity through their cultural festival."
Rabbi David Rosen
International Director of Interreligious Affairs, American Jewish Committee
"The variety of physical species and forms that make up our world reflect the very glory of the One Source of all life. If that is so with the physical world, how much more so must it be the case with the spiritual worlds in which human understanding of the Divine is so variegated and diversified by different and changing cultural and historical conditions.

Respecting this diversity is itself an expression of the appreciation of the inestimable and unfathomable complexity of our world and the inevitably limited human capacity to grasp the totality of the Divine Source. Such respect both inculcates in us authentic religious humility, and at the same time the capacity to celebrate the other and build a world of mutual understanding, appreciation and cooperation.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and his International Art of Living Foundation do precisely this opening eyes and hearts and serving as a source of blessing and inspiration to all."
Josef Winkler
Member of German Parliament, Board Member Green Party
"I applaud the International Art of Living Foundation and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for its outstanding service to mankind during the last 30 years. 10 Mio trees planted, lives of 200.000 prison inmates transformed , 61.546 rural youth trained in leadership and vocational skills and 138 free schools and uncountable peace initiatives are an outstanding track record. Sri Sri Ravi Shankars Ghandian` approach of resolving conflicts through non-violence and dialogue is much needed in today's times of domestic violence, religious intolerance and intercultural conflicts. I am pleased, that the World Culture Festival will provide a precious opportunity for the diverse cultures of this world to come together in a ecumenical spirit of belonging and connectedness!"
Mr. Nirj Deva
Member of the European Parliament
"I stand encouraged that across the world there is a growing realisation; an understanding that we must come to accept and embrace one anotherĀ“s cultures, acknowledging our differences and finding comfort in our similarities. In an increasingly globalised world where we are faced by challenges too great for any one nation or organisation to deal with alone I take heart that so many people from across the world are taking this step forward, recognising the need to promote greater cultural tolerance and a mutual respect that is now more than ever of such critical importance to us all. I congratulate the Art of Living Foundation and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for the outstanding contribution towards intercultural dialogue and peacekeeping in the last 30 years."
Mrs. Erna Hennicot-Schoepges
Former Minister of Culture, Rapporteur to the European Parliament for the Year of Intercultural Dialogue
"Life is a fact, living is an art. The 30th anniversary of the art of living movement should be a milestone of new thinking in a world of change."

Videos

The World Culture Festival

The Art of Living Silver Jubilee

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Celebrating Diversity for a Peaceful Tomorrow
13.12.2010
The World Culture Festival, an international peace event and celebration of cultures, happening from 2nd & 3rd July in the Olympiastadium Berlin, Germany
Partners         Under the patronage of: Indian Embassy