Battling controversies World Culture Festival goes on

dynamitenews.com
New Delhi/ 10 March 2016. Despite becoming thronged in multiple controversies, the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Art of Living foundation’s World Culture Festival 2016 is set to begin from Friday March 11 and will end on March 13. The 3 day World Culture Festival is being held on the banks of the River Yamuna utilizing a total area of 1,000 acres where around 3.5 million people are expected to attend.

Controversies
The delicate ecosystem of the River Yamuna coupled with the massive number of people in attendance and construction of a 7 acre stage along with floating bridges over the river triggered several protests. 

Safety of the floating bridges was contested but was solved once Army personnel stepped in to set up the bridges. 

Environmental activists urged the National Green Tribunal to put a hold onto the event based on the expected damage to the River Yamuna floodplains, to which NGT assigned a Rs 5 crore penalty to the Art of Living Foundation, while giving the programme a go-ahead. 

President Pranab Mukherjee opted out of the event earlier this week, although Prime Minister Modi will be attending the opening session of the event.  

What is the World Culture Festival? 
A World Culture Festival is being is the celebration of 35 years of service of the Art of Living foundation, spreading humanity, spirituality and human values. The event depicts diversity of culture across the world while simultaneously highlighting a global unity as a human family. The festival includes cultural celebrations, keynote speeches, inter faith meets, meditation and a valedictory function on the last day.