An Epic Celebration of Diversity, unity and Wellness
Performances by local artists, inspiring messages from Hampton Roads leaders, self-care techniques, international cuisines.
Virginia Beach (March 6th, 2023) – The Hampton roads Chapters of the Art of Living Foundation (AOLF) and International Association for Human Values (IAHV) is hosting an inaugural World Culture Festival (WCF) in Hampton Roads to celebrate and honor the rich cultural and artist expressions in the community on March 25th from 11am-6pm at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. World Culture Festival will honor the world’s rich diversity expressed through music, art, food, dance, meditation and inspirational messages from leaders.
Inspired by Global Humanitarian Leader, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a message that the human values of love, compassion and care can only be nurtured when the world comes together as one family and celebrate diversity, the local chapters have organized more than 25 diverse cultural performances. Local leaders will also reflect on their visions of unity and share techniques to foster resilience and harmony in the local community. Festival features wellbeing sessions, yoga flash mob, rich international cuisine of the area and continental culture booths.
World Culture Festival (WCF) in Hampton Roads is part of a series of curtain raisers across the United States that will culminate in a grand, olympic scale global celebration of culture, diversity and unity in the World Culture Festival 2023 on the National Mall on September 29-October 1st. More than 100000 visitors from across the globe are expected to travel to Washington DC for this festival.
“The World is converging here to celebrate life. People of all different cultures, religions, race, gender and age group are all going to be on one stage giving the message to the world that we are one world family. It will be a historic event on the National Mall, celebrating diversity, celebrating life,” Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said in his announcement of the historic World Culture Festival 2023 earlier today.
For the Hampton roads curtain raiser, key stakeholders in the community have emerged in support of the event. More than 30 ethnic and cultural organizations in Hampton Roads are coming together in celebration. This is especially powerful given the extraordinary challenges in the past few years – a global pandemic, racial injustice, economic disruption, and environmental threats.
World Culture Festival (WCF) in Hampton Roads aims to unite communities around Virginia and Hampton Roads to celebrate differences, and support initiatives that can build resilience and harmony in the communities. World Culture Festival (WCF) in Hampton Roads offers an opportunity to step into a new story and a new moment -from loss to celebration, from divisiveness to harmony, from loneliness and isolation to a sense of belonging with each as part of one world family.
For tickets: http://aolf.me/wcfhr . Tickets are $10 ($5 early bird online). Ages 15 & Under are free.
Promo: https://youtu.be/EuBjBMlz22Y
(1) About AOLF (Art of Living Foundation)
Operating in 180 countries, The Art of Living Foundation (AOLF) is a non-profit, educational and humanitarian organization founded in 1981 by the humanitarian and spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. All of AOLF’s programs are inspired by Gurudev’s philosophy of creating world peace through a stress-free and violence-free society. AOLF has touched over 500 million lives through numerous educational and self-development programs and tools that facilitate the elimination of stress and foster deep and profound inner peace, happiness and well-being for individuals.
(2) About IAHV (International Association for Human Values)
IAHV offers programs to reduce stress and develop leaders so that human values can flourish in people and communities. IAHV’s initiatives help foster a sense of connectedness and respect for all people and the natural environment, an attitude of non-violence, and an ethic of social service. The various programs offered by IAHV help enhance clarity of mind, shift attitudes and behaviors, and develop leaders and communities that are resilient, responsible, and inspired.
(3) The 2023 World Culture Festival will be the 4th World Culture Festival launched by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a mega international event on the Washington DC National Mall in September 2023. The last one in India (2016) drew 3.5 million people worldwide with the key message “We are one world family.” More than 5 million people from the world over attended our previous World Culture Festival events inspired by the messages of harmony and belonging from Presidents, Prime Ministers, business and religious leaders. They also enjoyed performances from more than 45,000 artists, and meditation with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of AOLF and IAHV
Media Contact:
Nitin Kakde
Phone : 404-514-6516
Email: hamptonroads@us.artofliving.org
