UNITED WE CELEBR ATE

WASHINGTON, D.C.
September 29 - October 1, 2023
The National Mall
 World Culture Festival
UNITED WE CELEBRATE
VISION
“In a world which is so
polarized, divided and
despondent, it is time for us to
come together in celebration
and appreciate the rich
diversity on this planet. It’s
high time we recognize that
we are a One World Family.”
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Founder, Art of Living Foundation &
International Association for Human Values
World Culture Festival
UNITED WE CELEBRATE
world -
Art. ga w

id e
Music.

Creati
Dance.

circle
Meditation
for World Peace.

s
es

o
Inspirational

f
b
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Talks.
l o n g i
World Culture Festival
UNITED WE CELEBRATE
RECEPTION COMMITTEE
OVERVIEW
World Culture Festival comes to
America’s backyard! H.E. Pravind Jugnauth
Prime Minister, Mauritius
At the World Culture Festival, attendees will take a journey
around the world on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.,
experiencing diverse music, dance, art, food, and fashion. H.E. Chan Santokhi
This historic event will bring together people from all President, Suriname
corners of the world, from Argentina to Zimbabwe, Canada
“We are incredibly excited and proud to
to Australia, and from every state in America. At a time of announce that Washington DC will host
the fourth World Culture Festival.” H.E. Erik Solheim
widening differences and divisions, the Festival will be an
Former UN Under-Secretary-General
uplifting experience of unity and celebration for all people. Mayor Muriel Bowser, and Executive Director of the UN
Washington, D.C. Environmental Programme (UNEP)
Former Minister of International
Development & Environment, Norway
H.E. Kjell Magne Bondevik
Former Prime Minister, Norway
Founder and Executive Chair,
The Oslo Center
H.E. Nambaryn Enkhbayar
Former President, Mongolia
H.E. Vicente Fox
Former President, Mexico
H.E. Mohamed Moncef Marzouki
Former President, Tunisia
H.E. Alojz Peterle
Former Prime Minister, Slovenia
Photo Credit: National Park Service
World Culture Festival
UNITED WE CELEBRATE
H.E. Ban Ki-moon
8th Secretary-General of the
United Nations, South Korea
Chair, Reception Committee
H.E. Ratu Wiliame Katonivere
President, Fiji
H.E. Jacques Santer
Former President,
European Commission
Former Prime Minister, Luxembourg
H.E. Venkaiah Naidu
Former Vice President, India
H.E. Helen Clark
Former Prime Minister,
New Zealand
H.E. Dr. Mark Eyskens
Former Prime Minister, Belgium
H.E. Federico Franco
Former President, Paraguay
H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo
Former President, Nigeria
H.E. Rosalía Arteaga Serrano
Former President, Ecuador
Executive Director, Fidal Foundation
World Culture Festival
UNITED WE CELEBRATE
H.E. Jigmi Yoser Thinley
Former Prime Minister, Bhutan
The Honorable Katherine Clark
Minority Whip of the United States
House of Representatives (D-MA),
United States of America
The Honorable Prof. Herman De Croo
Minister of State
Honorary Speaker of the House
Honorary Mayor of Brakel, Belgium
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Former Speaker and
Member of House of Representatives (D-CA),
United States of America
The Honorable Ryszard Czarnecki
Former Vice President of European
Parliament,
Member of European Parliament, Poland
H.E. Ted Baillieu
Former Premier of Victoria, Australia
The Honorable Hakubun Shimomura
Member of the House of Representatives,
Former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology, Japan
The Honorable Geoffrey Van Orden CBE
Former Leader of British Conservatives
in the European Parliament,
United Kingdom
The Honorable John Sarbanes
Member of House of Representatives
(D-MD), United States of America
Senator Charles Schumer
Majority Leader of United States Senate
(D-NY), United States of America
H.E. Akie Abe
Former First Lady, Japan
The Honorable Armin Laschet
Member of German Parliament
Vice-President, Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe, Former Minister-
President of North Rhine-Westphalia,
Germany
Right Honorable Sir Robert James
Buckland KBE KC MP
Former Lord Chancellor and Wales
Secretary, United Kingdom
The Honorable Sumitra Mahajan
Former Speaker of the Lok Sabha, India
The Honorable Bruno Bruins
Former Minister for Medical Care,
Netherlands
The Honorable Hildebrando Tapia
Former Vice President,
Andean Parliament, Peru
The Honorable Danny Davis
Member of House of Representatives
(D-IL), United States of America
The Honorable Mike Quigley
Member of House of Representatives
(D-IL), United States of America
The Honorable Bill Foster
Member of House of Representatives
(D-IL), United States of America
The Honorable Richard Hudson
Member of House of Representatives
(R-NC), United States of America
The Honorable Don Beyer
Member of House of Representatives
(D-VA), United States of America
The Honorable Ro Khanna
Member of House of Representatives
(D-CA), United States of America
The Honorable Michael Guest
Member of House of Representatives
(R-MS), United States of America
The Honorable Jake Auchincloss
Member of House of Representatives
(D-MA), United States of America
The Honorable Young Kim
Member of House of Representatives
(R-CA), United States of America
The Honorable Michelle Steel
Member of House of Representatives
(R-CA), United States of America
The Honorable Laurel Lee
Member of House of Representatives
(R-FL), United States of America
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UNITED WE CELEBRATE
The Honorable Andy Barr
Member of House of Representatives
(R-KY), United States of America
The Honorable Marc Veasey
Member of House of Representatives
(D-TX), United States of America
The Honorable Darin LaHood
Member of House of Representatives
(R-IL), United States of America
The Honorable Raja Krishnamoorthi
Member of House of Representatives
(D-IL), United States of America
The Honorable Andy Kim
Member of House of Representatives
(D-NJ), United States of America
The Honorable Jerry Carl
Member of House of Representatives
(R-AL), United States of America
The Honorable Deborah Ross
Member of House of Representatives
(D-NC), United States of America
The Honorable Kevin Kiley
Member of House of Representatives (R-CA),
United States of America
The Honorable Rich McCormick
Member of House of Representatives
(R-GA), United States of America
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The Honorable Shri Thanedar The Honorable Binod Chaudhary Dr. Manoj K. Jain Mike Perlis
Member of House of Representatives Member of Parliament, Nepal Founder and President, Vice Chairman,
(D-MI), United States of America Chairman and President, Mid-South Infectious Disease Forbes Media
The Chaudhary Group (CG) Associates  
 
The Honorable Yvonne Feri The Honorable Dr. Nik Gugger M.R. Rangaswami H.E. Nirj Deva, DL, FRSA
Member of Parliament, Switzerland Member of the Parliament, Switzerland Founder, Indiaspora Forum and Presidential Envoy to Western Europe
Member of the European Parliament Corporate Eco Forum & Commonwealth of Nations,
Managing Director, Sand Hill Group Commonwealth Union
Former Vice President for International
Development, European Parliament
His Highness Azzan Bin Qais Al Said
Vice Chairman, Prem Jain Randi Weingarten
Oman National Olympic Committee, Oman Co-Founder, President,
Pensando Systems, now the American Federation of Teachers
Networking Solutions Group
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE AMDPensando
 
Ranvir Trehan HRH Ambassador Reema Bint Bandar
Rob Trombold David M. Rubenstein
Trustee, Al Saud
President, Art of Living Foundation Co-Founder and Co-Chairman,
John F. Kennedy Center for the Ambassador of the Kingdom of
Convener, World Culture Festival The Carlyle Group
Performing Arts Saudi Arabia to the United States
Chairman, John F. Kennedy Center
for the Performing Arts
Rabbi Abraham Cooper Dr. Alfred Balitzer Reginald (Reggie) Van Lee Rodney Mims Cook, Jr.
Chair, United States Commission on Chairman, Pacific Research & Strategies, Partner and Chief Transformation Officer, President,
International Religious Freedom Senior Fellow and Board of Trustees, Carlyle Group National Monuments Foundation
Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Claremont Graduate University,
Action Agenda, Simon Wiesenthal Center Board of Trustees, Sri Sri University
Sanjay Pradhan Shekar Narasimhan
Ann Luskey Chirag Patel
Chief Executive Officer, Managing Partner, Beekman Advisors
Founder and Trustee, President and CEO,
Open Government Partnership President, Dharma Into Action Foundation
Charlotte’s Web Amneal Pharmaceuticals
(DhIA)
Dr. Sreenivas Reddy, MD Tim Draper
Courteney Monroe The Honorable Francisco Sanchez Vascular Interventional Radiologist Founder,
President, National Geographic Former U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce, Draper Associates, DFJ,
Global Television Networks US Department of Commerce Draper Venture Network,
Draper University
Tim Ryan Tonya Kinlow
The Honorable Jo Leinen Louis Gagnon Former Congressman, Vice President of Community Engagement,
Former Member, Founder and CEO, Ohio’s 13th District Advocacy, and Government Affairs,
European Parliament Regenerative Group Children’s National Hospital
Chair, Board of Directors,
DC Chamber of Commerce
The Honorable Luis Moreno Ocampo Madhu Rao Ambassador Vijay Nambiar Vivek Paul
Founding Prosecutor, Former CEO, Former Chef-de-Cabinet, Adjunct Professor, Stanford University
International Court of Justice Shangri-La Group Special Ambassador to Myanmar, Former CEO, Wipro Limited
  United Nations
World Culture Festival World Culture Festival
UNITED WE CELEBRATE UNITED WE CELEBRATE
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Friday - SEPT 29, 2023
Festival Grounds Festival Village
12pm - 6pm A one-mile stretch between 7th St and 14th St, featuring cultural pavilions, activities Indian Classical Dance & Classical Symphony with 850 Artists
including fashion showcases, and over 80 food trucks serving international cuisines. Symphony of 250 instrumentalists including sitar, veena, tabla, mridangam, flute,
ghatam and violin plus 600 dancers performing bharatanatyam, kathak, odissi,
Main Stage World Culture Festival Showcase kuchipudi, and mohiniattam
6pm - 9pm
Howard University Marching Band with 150 Musicians East Meets West Dance Fusion Finale with 500 Dancers
The acclaimed Showtime Band from Howard University. Fusion of contemporary ballet, hip hop, African, Caribbean, & Bollywood dance
National Anthem Children’s Choir Messages from World Leaders
Brief remarks by dignitaries inspiring unity, cultural understanding, and cooperation
Native American Invocation & Acknowledgement of the Land will be interspersed throughout the program.
One World Family Invocation Vote of Thanks
A 200-artist choir with Grammy nominated artist Chandrika Tandon
Draft Program Schedule. Subject to change.
Welcome Address by the WCF Convener
Opening Remarks
Chairperson H.E. Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the UN
Saturday - SEPT 30, 2023
Native American Dance by 100 Artists
Dancers representing various tribes from the region perform to the powerful beats of Festival Grounds Festival Village
live drums 12pm - 6pm
International Drum Mashup with 150 Musicians Main Stage World Culture Festival Showcase
A grand mashup of Brazilian batala, indian tabla, & African djembe led by 5pm - 9pm
world-renowned drummer Sivamani Go-Go Performance
Pulsating beats and infectious energy of Washington’s iconic go-go bands
Latin American Folk Dance with 200 Dancers
Vibrant folk dancers from Colombia, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. Global “I Belong to You” Song with 200 School Children
Pop influencer Jini June with 200 children, spreading a message of harmony
Global Guitar Ensemble with 1000 Guitarists
Popular sing-along classics with renowned lead guitarists, including Garba Dance with 10,000 Artists
Grammy-award winners 10,000 garba dancers circle the National Mall in a spirit of celebration
Bulgarian Folk Dance by 300 Artists Invocations by Spiritual Traditions
300 artists dance to the soul-stirring melodies of Bulgarian singers Invocations from Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Jain, Christian, Islamic, and Sikh traditions
African Music & Dance with 200 Artists Chenda Drums with 100 Artists
Amadou Kouyate and his djembe and kora orchestra, accompanied by Percussionists showcasing the beats and rhythm of Kerala, India
African dancers
Indonesian Dance by 100 Artists
Middle Eastern Dance by 100 Artists A “wonderland dance of Indonesia” representing the country’s five main islands
Three dynamic segments represent the Arabian Gulf, Egypt, and Lebanon
Brazilian Performance with 100 Artists
Hip Hop, Breakdance & Rap by 200 Artists 100 all-woman batala drum group unites with dancers and martial artists.
Kurtis Blow and other hip hop legends accompanied by 200 breakdancers, MC’s,
DJ’s and graffiti artists
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Sunday - OCT 1, 2023
Chinese Cultural Choir & Dance with 1000 Artists Main Stage Yoga Festival
Chinese classical choir, classical dancers, dragons, & kung-fu in a fusion of 8am - 9am
music & movement.
Festival Grounds Festival Village
Traditional Afghan Music & Sufi Whirling 10am - 2pm
100 musicians playing traditional instruments and singing captivating melodies along
with 20 whirling dervishes Main Stage World Culture Festival Showcase
10am - 1pm
Global Peace Meditation With Gurudev Swiss Alphorns with 42 Artists
A few minutes of stillness for collective well-being and harmony Elegant harmonies of Swiss alphorns, the original wooden wind instrument of
Switzerland
Soul Chants Choir
200-person choir reciting shanti (peace) mantras in Sanskrit led by Classic Reggae & Caribbean Dance
Chandrika Tandon Rhythms of reggae with Skip Marley, the grandson of the legendary Bob Marley, and
dancers from the Caribbean
Nepalese Dance with 150 Artists
dancers in vibrant costumes, representing the spiritual traditions of Nepal Soulful Melodies with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC
Uplifting vocals from one of the nation’s largest and oldest LGBT choral organizations
Traditional Gospel Choir with 1000 Singers
Performance by musicians from church and university choirs Japanese Taiko Drum Performance with 50 Artists
Thunderous beats and synchronized movements by skilled Taiko drummers
Ukrainian Dance by 200 Dancers
Exhilarating acrobatics and vibrant footwork of the hopak, a traditional Argentine Tango with 40 Dancers
Ukrainian dance Tango couples showcasing the essence of this beloved Argentine dance form
Bhangra Dance by 200 Dancers Rock n’ Roll with an International Lineup of Bands
Bhangra, a lively and vibrant dance form originating from Punjab, India Rock n’ roll with high-energy beats and electrifying guitar riffs
Latin American Dance Fusion with 200 Artists Jazz Performance with Award-winning Musicians
Fusion of traditional folk dances from Honduras, Bolivia, and the Dominican Republic Soulful melodies of a captivating jazz medley
Pakistani Folk Music & Dance with 100 Artists Hawaiian Performance by 50 Traditional Dancers
Pakistani folk dancers, Sufi poetry, and folk music Dance showcasing the unique movements, music, and vibrant costumes of the
Hawaiian Islands
Irish Dance with 100 Dancers
Lively Irish dancers in traditional dress showcasing the rich traditions of Ode to America and India
the Emerald Isle A beautiful choral medley of 200 voices blending “America the Beautiful” and
“Vande Mataram.”
Mongolian Dance with 100 Dancers
A vibrant and energetic dance highlighting the heritage and nomadic traditions Messages from World Leaders
of Mongolia Brief remarks by dignitaries inspiring unity, cultural understanding, and cooperation
will be interspersed throughout the program.
“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” Song
A 200-artist choir with Indian classical artist Sujata Ghanekar Vote of Thanks
Messages from World Leaders Closing Ceremony
Brief remarks by dignitaries inspiring unity, cultural understanding, and cooperation
will be interspersed throughout the program. Draft Program Schedule. Subject to change.
Vote of Thanks
Draft Program Schedule. Subject to change.
 World Culture Festival World Culture Festival
UNITED WE CELEBRATE UNITED WE CELEBRATE
Footprints through time...
2006 2011 2016 2023
BANG ALORE BERLIN NE W DELHI WA S H I N GTO N , D.C .
• 2.5 million attendees • 70,000 attendees • 3.75 million in-person attendees • September 29 - October 1, 2023
• 110 countries • 151 countries • 155 countries • The National Mall
• 750 key political and business leaders • 6,000 artists and dignitaries • 2500 religious & spiritual leaders
• 3,800 musicians and performers • Performances from Europe, Japan, Argentina, • 3000 prominent dignitaries
• 1,000 spiritual and religious leaders Cyprus, Cuba, Ukraine, the U.S. and more! • 36,603 performers
World Culture Festival World Culture Festival
UNITED WE CELEBRATE UNITED WE CELEBRATE
ABOUT US
42 years The Art of Living is one of the world’s largest volunteer
of fostering based non-profits. Together with our partner
peace, organization, the International Association for Human
resilience Values, we offer programs in a range of sectors including
conflict resolution, peacebuilding, environmental
and service. restoration, sustainable agriculture and rural
development. Our programs and initiatives have
reached more than 500 million people in 180 countries.
Washington
Welcomes
www.artofliving.org www.iahv.org
the World.
You are invited with family
and friends to be part
of this historic moment.
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1-877-WCF-2023 | wcf@us.artofliving.org

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