Jubilee of love & joy
The ancient dream of a One World Family, came alive at the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Art of Living in Bengaluru.
Overview
Kings, prime ministers and presidents and World Bank executives brushed shoulders with housewives, NASA engineers, rural villagers, and movie stars. Historically conflicting communities seemed to find peace in those 72 hours. Indians and Pakistanis, Chinese and Taiwanese, Bosnians and Serbians, Iranians, Iraqis and Americans were among the 2.5 million people who stood side-by-side in the 265-acre Jakkur Airfield. They brought into fruition, the ideal of the One World Family or Vasudhaiva Kumbakam, that was the echoed theme of the event.
A glimpse of what happened:
“His Holiness, who is the symbol of selfless service to humanity, has shown us that we can live together in peace and love.”
“This was the first attempt of its kind to bring all religious and spiritual leaders on a single platform.”
Celebration and serenity merged as Gurudev led millions through Sudarshan Kriya, the stress
elimination breathing process, and a session of deep meditation, thus marking the event as the
largest group meditation ever recorded.
“My name is Hashmi, but it doesn't matter any more. I am from Saudi Arabia. It doesn’t matter anymore.
I have been wondering why I’m here. I have two answers. First, I don’t know and second, which is more
important, is I don’t want to know. We don’t have to find reasons to love each other.”
An orchestra of 3,800 South Indian musicians who had never played or rehearsed together, spontaneously performed a musical symphony each night. They played 100 ghatams, 360 mridangams, 60 tamburas, 770 veenas, 782 violins, 750 flutes, 150 guitars and many other instruments. Performances by revered Indian and international musicians reiterated the theme of unity among different people and cultures of the world.
The event was managed and coordinated by about 30,000 volunteers, many of them rural youth who’ve been part of a sustainable rural development project called the 5H program and participated in its Youth Leadership Training Program.
“It (Art of Living) is the beginning for every being and everything. The love that Gurudev embodies will prevail and empower humankind.”
