Guru Ji's Private Party Undampened by Showers; Modi, Music & Dance Awe Audience

Heavy showers in the beginning of the event failed to deter the onlookers and the abundance crowd making their way to catch a glimpse of the spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar.
Guru Ji's Private Party Undampened by Showers; Modi, Music & Dance Awe Audience

NEW DELHI: No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive, said the great Mahatma, carrying this message forward the mega festival of Art of Living commenced in the heart of the national capital at Yamuna bank grounds.

Heavy showers in the beginning of the event failed to deter the onlookers and the abundance crowd making their way to catch a glimpse of the spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar. For many it was a day out on the weekend, the universal symphony of 108 Dangri Dol artists from Maharashtra, then came in 600 Mrigandam players from the state.

Musical and dance performance were liked by people of all age group despite their preference. The evening also witnessed Argentinian singer Patricia Sosa and kathak by 1,700 artists choreographed by Pandit Birju Maharaj , similarly in bright Orange and golden 1,700 artist Bharatnatyam choreographed by Padmini Suraja Vaidyanathan.

Volunteers came from the entire country to help and witness the event of such magnitude. Around 8,500 of the Art of Living’s Grand Orchestra charged up the atmosphere after the damp by the heavy rains, 1,050 vedic pandits also took part in the ceremony which is going to continue for two more days. 

“We have children here who are visually impaired but still walked for so long. Many said this is Guru ji’s private party, I said Yes, definitely as the entire world is my family” said Ravishankar

“We love nature and will always do so” added the guru , after earlier this week, the National Green Tribunal allowed the event but asked Art of Living to pay Rs. 5 crore to restore the area. 

Thousands came for the opening, unfazed by traffic or the heavy rain and hail that led to brief chaos at the 1000 acre area that includes a stage as big as six football fields for 35,000 performers from 150 countries including Pakistan, Brazil and Argentina.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com