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This is the Kumbh mela of arts, PM says at World Culture Festival

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his 'parampujya guruji' Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Friday evening appeared to be working in tandem to respond to critics of the controversial World Culture Festival."If we keep criticizing ourselves, why would the world look to us?" PM Modi asked in his address while inaugurating the Rs 26 crore Art of Living event .For about a week now, Ravi Shankar and the Centre have been criticized by environmentalists who said allowing an event like this on the ecologically-sensitive flood plains of the Yamuna will prove disastrous to the surrounding habitat.The National Green Tribunal, too, fined the Art of Living Foundation Rs five crores as "environmental compensation'' for damage done to the venue. It even rebuked several government bodies for being negligent in their duties in giving the nod for the event.Ravi Shankar said on Thursday that he wouldn't pay that fine.Other critics have been saying that a private event such as this one should not be getting any help from the government. The Centre gave the event Rs 2.5 crores.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar responded to that in his opening address by putting a new twist to 'Vasudaiva Kutumbakam', a phrase from an Upanishad that means 'the world is one family.'"This event is a private affair, yes, but the whole world is my family," Ravi Shankar said to deafening applause. "I just want to say, I belong to all," he emphasized.PM Modi too went on to give his stamp of approval to what he believes Ravi Shankar and the Art of Living's "soft power" have achieved."Through Art of Living, the world has come to know more about India. It has grown from a small movement 35 years ago to a global phenomenon," Modi said. The PM called the three-day event "a Kumbh Mela" of art and culture."We need Art of Living for everything. To fulfil our dreams, we need Art of Living, to deal with difficulties, we need Art of Living, to help others, we need Art of Living," PM Modi said.Ravi Shankar, who spoke before Modi, shared his views.“When you want to do something wrong, then there will be no obstacles, but when you want to do something right, there will always be obstacles,” Shankar said, perhaps talking about his World Culture Festival.