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THE WORLD CULTURE FESTIVAL

Olympiastadion Berlin 2nd & 3rd July 2011

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!

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

Celebrating Diversity for a peaceful tomorrow

Festival with Dance, Music, Literature, Yoga and Food The World Culture Festival held in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of The International Art of Living Foundation will host 70,000 participants from over 150 countries who will take home unique sights, sounds, tastes and the mesmerizing variety of the world continents in one place!

The Grand Celebration in the Olympiastadion Berlin as well as in the World Pavilions will showcase the beauty of all world cultures through dance, music, food, literature and conferences.

The Festival will honour the norms and values of various cultures while celebrating harmony in diversity.

The WCF-World Pavilions beautifully situated in the green fields around the stadium will showcase in four pavilions the world continents cultural heritage by allowing participants to experience the typical food, dance, literature and music of Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Americas.

The pavilions will also host the 5th International Women's Conference, a World Youth Conference and Conference on Living Human Values.

Senior governmental representatives, business leaders, academia, leaders of NGOs, religious and spiritual leaders, peacemakers and renowned personalities from across the globe will exchange their views and spread the message of peace, unity and harmony in diversity.

The World Pavilions will also host an exquisite international vegetarian food festival, allowing participants to taste the cuisine of all continents. The World Culture Festival will furthermore share the vast cultural heritage of India, the source of yoga, not only by showcasing the benefits of yoga, but also by sharing the beauty and depth of the music, dance and the cuisine of India. Up to 5000 guests, including artists and distinguished delegates from public and private sector, are expected to travel from India to Berlin.

The WCF-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. Yoga experts of all different traditions will share their expertise in conferences and workshops. A unique Yoga Museum will chart the evolution of Yoga from ancient sages to its global application in the 21st century. The Yoga Park will also illustrate the societal impact of Yoga in peace building and therefore its application in humanitarian projects around the world.

Leading dance and music troops from around the globe will mesmerize the audience with dazzling performances. The Grand finale will see an unparalleled concert with 30 pianos and 2000 guitars as well as a Peace Meditation.

Welcome to Berlin! Welcome to an unforgettable celebration!

"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

- Mr. Jacques Santer, Former Prime Minister Luxemburg, Former President of the European Commission

- Prof. Vytautas Landsbergis, Former Prime Minister of Lithuania

- Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal, Minister for Coal, Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India

- Prof. Dr. Ahmet Akgündüz, President Islamic University Rotterdam

- Dr. Thuwayba Al Barwani, Dean, Sultan Qaboos University

- Mr. Danny Davis, Hon. Congressman, US Congress

- Mr. Nirj Deva, Member of the European Parliament

- Ms. Monika Griefahn, Board Member, Right Livelihood Award

- Ms. Indu Jain, Chairperson, Times of India Group; Bennett, Coleman & Co

- Robert Korzeniowski, winner of four golden Olimpic Madals and three World Championships in Man’ Walking

- Judge Gabrielle Kirk McDonald, Former President International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia – The Hague

- Mrs. Jolanta Kwasniewska, Former First Lady of Poland

- Mr. Ram Labhaya Lakhina, Founder, President The Netherlands India Chamber of Commerce and Trade (NICCT), Chairman Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Foundation

- Ms. Erika Mann, Former Member of the European Parliament

- Dr. Mihail Mihailov, Member of Bulgarian Parliament,

- Mrs. Nancy Pelosi, Hon. Congresswoman, US Congress

- Mr. Christopher Pinto, President Iran-US Claims Tribunal

- Mr. Mike Quigley, Hon. Congressman, US Congress

- Mr. Madhu Rao, CEO Shangri-La Hotel Group International

- Mr. Peleg Reshef, Director, the Future Generations Division, World Jewish Congress

- Rabbi David Rosen, International Director of Interreligious Affairs, American Jewish Committee

- Mrs. Jan Schakowsky, Hon. Congresswoman, US Congress

- Prof. Dr. Myron S. Scholes, Chairman, Platinum Grove Asset Management (Oak Hill Platinum

Partners)

- Prof. Dr. Gesine Schwan, founder Humboldt-Viadrina School of Governance

- 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. Josef Winkler, Member of German Parliament, Board Member Green Party

- Mr. Vladislav G. Yurchick, Member of the Russian Federation Parliament, and Permanent Representative of Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the EurAsEC (Eurasian Economic Community)

Messages

“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.”

Mrs. Gesine Schwan, founder Humboldt-Viadrina School of Governance

“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.”

Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal, Minister for Coal, Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India

“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.”

Rabbi David Rosen, International Director of Interreligious Affairs, American Jewish Committee

“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.”

Erika Mann, Former Member of the European Parliament

„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.”

Monika Griefahn, Board Member, Right Livelihood Award

“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.”

Dr. M. Veerappa Moily, Minister of Law & Justice, 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.”

Sri Praful Patel, Minister of state for civil aviation, 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.”

Sri Vilasrao Deshmukh, Minister of heavy industries and public enterprises, Government of India.

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News

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

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