Batting away criticism about environmental damage and misusing the army to build a pontoon bridge, guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's World Culture Festival started off in full swing on Friday. The organisers of the Art of Living event were determined to go ahead with the festivities, come rain or sunshine, literally. Audiences at the inauguration ceremony got drenched in a hailstorm, but then a rainbow stretched across the sky soon afterwords, clearly indicating that the gods had blessed the event.
But it wasn't just Lord Indra who showered his benedictions on the festival. A large number of luminaries from government also took their place next to Ravi Shankar on the golden pavillion. According to reports, almost all the ministers of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet were in attendance. They were lavish in their praise.
Addressing the gathering on Friday, Modi called the Art of Living festival the "Kumbh Mela of culture". The next day, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj anointed Ravi Shankar "India's cultural ambassador". "He is the symbol of our soft power," she said. Not to be left behind, Home Minister Rajnath Singh used the occasion to gush about India's "big heart and tolerant culture".
Ravi Shankar is certainly skilled in the art of extending a warm welcome. Here he is, garlanding Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis:
And playing peek-a-boo with Modi:
And charming Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan:
Ravi Shankar also cleared up a few mysteries on Saturday. After having volunteered to go to jail instead of paying the fine imposed by the National Green Tribunal, he had executed a swift about turn on Friday and deposited Rs 25 lakh of the Rs 5 crore penalty. But this was no fine, he explained to audiences on Saturday. He had nobly agreed to donate the money for the "Yamuna's restoration".
On the matter of the army being used for a private event, however, he did not feel explanations were needed. Security forces stood guard at the pontoon bridge on the river while dignitaries talked world peace, drawing fresh criticism:
The guru clearly has little time for all the naysayers making a noise about public commons and resources being used for the festival. Because all the world's a stage, and all the men and women in it merely tax payers:
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