Reporting from the World Culture Festival!

This past week, I let you know all about the World Culture Festival in Washington D.C. This weekend, I’m here along with 600,000 others! I wanted to share with you some of the amazing highlights of performances and speakers over the past three days:

• The national anthem of the United States of America, sung by award-winning D.C. high school choirs, supported by the US Army Chorus. They were AMAZING!!
• Mayor Bowser’s of Washington D.C. welcomed us warmly
• We received blessings in a sacred ceremony by the Elders of the Piscataway and Lakota Tribes      
• We got to travel to south India and experience the most ancient oboe, Nadasvaram, a traditional classical instrument used for centuries.
• 250 high school students and 100 adults performed “United We Celebrate” with Grammy-nominated artist Chandrika Tandon that was SPECTACULAR!!!
• Folk rhythms of the Andes, Swiss Alphorns, Howard University Showtime marching band (wowowowowo), an East Meets West Global fusion of dancers that was O-F-F THE CHARTS!!
• US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy

An unprecedented event, WCF marks 42 years of service by the Art of Living Foundation. The goal to heal the fabric of societies torn apart by polarization across ethnic, religious, cultural, economic & political divides. It brought together diverse cultures, nationalities, religions, ideologies and political parties on a common platform to celebrate a one-world family.

With an esteemed reception committee chaired by former UN Secretary-General, H.E. Ban Ki-moon, and including fifteen current and former heads of state, among other dignitaries as well as approximately 20,000 artists representing 80+ countries performing on a magnificent stage in front of the Capitol, with a world peace meditation led by Gurudev each evening, the air was full of the feeling of connection, cooperation, and celebration bringing hope!

This is an immense, life-changing event. I was honored to be a part of it, to attend it, to be one of the MC’s, and now to carry forward the mission with all of you!

Love and Blessings,
Katherine