Twitter
Advertisement

Sri Sri gets PM Narendra Modi's pat for 'Kumbh mela of art'

Though rains threatened to disrupt the grand opening ceremony, the event went ahead as per schedule amid colourful cultural performances by artists from across the world and addresses by foreign dignitaries.

Latest News
article-main
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar during the opening day of the three-day long World Culture Festival on the banks of river Yamuna in New Delhi on Friday.
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

The three-day cultural extravaganza organised by Art of Living on the banks of Yamuna in east Delhi opened on Friday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi heaping praise on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar saying he had “introduced” India to the world. 

Though rains threatened to disrupt the grand opening ceremony, the event went ahead as per schedule amid colourful cultural performances by artists from across the world and addresses by foreign dignitaries.

Terming the event as "the kumbh fair of art", Modi said even rains were "testing" the organisers. He told the near 1.5 lakh crowd to take pride in their cultural heritage. “India has the cultural heritage and richness which the whole world is looking for. We can fulfil those needs... But it can only happen, if we take pride in our heritage. If we keep cursing it, then why the world will look at us," he said while praising Ravi Shankar's efforts in this regard.

Former French prime minister Dominique Villepin, Nepal's deputy prime minister Kamal Thapa, UAE's cultural minister Al Nahayan were among the foreign dignitaries present.

Art of Living made to pay Rs 25 lakh, granted 3 weeks time to pay Rs 5 crore compensation

To ensure that the Art of Living (AoL) forks out Rs5 crore environment compensation for tampering Yamuna floodplains, the National Green Tribunal asked the NGO to pay Rs25 lakh on Friday while granting them three weeks to pay up the remaining amount.

The NGT was hearing a fresh application by Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan after they highlighted that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's organization had to pay the compensation before the event began.

"They (Art of Living) would pay a sum of Rs 25 lakh today itself and the balance amount within 3 weeks from today. If the amount is not paid within the time now allowed, then the amount of Rs 2.5 crore to be paid by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and would stand attached in the hands of Ministry and/ or in the Bank," the chairperson bench of justice Swatanter Kumar said in its interim order on Friday. The counsel for DDA or Art of Living did not confirm late till Friday if Rs.25 lakh had been paid. Read More

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement