The recently concluded World Culture Festival (WCF) has been a grand success in its vision of uniting the world through culture and spirituality. Coming together of people of such diversity in a celebrative atmosphere is rare. Many of the dignitaries who came from abroad acknowledged this and appreciated the efforts. That itself can be a considered as a new paradigm for global harmony.
The festival brought together all the cultures of the world on a stage. Nearly 36,000 artists from 150 countries showcased over 91 performances. The sight of such a diverse artists being cheered by each other and gathering of over 3.7 million people was sublime. The report of the festival was watched online in 188 countries at as many zzzz locations goes to prove that the festival was one of the most universal and inclusive in its approach and outlook.
Historically, there are four broad areas in which people come together, express camaraderie and pursue collaboration. But these structures are also under strain and there is an urgent need to find ways to unite the world for the larger good of the humanity.
Games and sports have been one of the oldest ways of getting people together. Even the spirit of Olympics is rooted in this. However, games are now fought like wars and wars are fought like games.
The second thing that can unite people is business and industry. The rising competitiveness in the global arena has led to a cut-throat competition rather than harmonious collaborations among people. The business scenario today is marked by tension and one upmanship.
The third aspect of religion has also let down the humanity with so many conflicts arising in the name of religion. Its very purpose of uplifting life and spreading harmony and goodness is being severely challenged.
Music and culture offer endless possibilities for people to come together, but they have not been attended to. Concerts and performances do happen all the time, but there has been very little effort to the bridge gap among different cultures of the world. People remain confined in their own culture.
With a view to bridge the cultural gap, we hosted the first World Culture Festival in Berlin five years ago. Buoyed by its success, we decided to bring it to India so that the large treasure of traditional arts and folk dances get the long-due exposure. On that count, the festival was a grand success.
Another highlight of the festival was the coming together of so many religious leaders to share and spread the essence of their faiths. Such co-mingling of leaders of contrasting beliefs is the need of the hour. Whenever leaders of religious communities gather, it often ends up in arguments, debates and discords. But at WCF, they all came to stand up in solidarity for the message that we are one world family.
The making of the event itself was nothing less than miraculous. Most amazing thing was the stage which stood 65 ft high across 7 acres without a foundation. Nobody could believe it could hold so many people. It’s unbelievable that nearly 36000 people performed on that stage.
Another miracle of sort was how 30 dance types by over 4600 dancers performed in perfect synchronization though they did not get to psychically practice together even once. Since the groups were so large they couldn't gather at one location and could do only virtual rehearsal. The ditto for 8,000 musicians playing in a symphony over 50 instruments!
Mankind has found itself divided in almost every sphere of life. Only culture and spirituality offer the hope for bringing people together. They can still break all the barriers of nationality, race, religion, class, etc. That’s why it’s important for us to keep at least culture and spirituality safe from any divisive forces.
It’s regrettable that certain sections have tried to put obstacles on the festival. The forces which thrive on conflict and division cannot digest a platform like this where people united beyond all divisions. They see such events as threats to their very existence. Thankfully, the masses responded resoundingly to the vision of unity. This task of uniting the world can only march ahead!
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