The Art of Living Foundation’s three-day 25th anniversary celebration brought together people from all walks of life from around the world. Kings, prime ministers, presidents, government leaders, business executives, engineers,students, housewives, rural villagers, and celebrities joined together for these memorable days.

Americans, Indians and Pakistanis, Chinese and Taiwanese, Bosnians and Serbians, Iranians and Iraqis were among the 2.5 million people from over 110 countries who stood side-by-side in the 243-acre Jakkur Airfield and celebrated humanity - the common thread that binds people into what Founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar calls a One World Family.

An orchestra, comprised of 3,800 Indian classical musicians who had never played or rehearsed together, spontaneously performed a musical symphony each night. They played 100 Ghatams, 360 Mrudangams (percussion), 60 Tamburas, 770 Veenas, 782 Violins, 150 Guitars, 750 Flutes, and many other instruments. Performances by renowned Indian and international musicians reiterated the theme of unity among different peoples and cultures of the world.

Religious leaders of all of the world’s major faiths, political leaders from opposing parties and artists of screen, stage and sound shared the 30-foot-tall, 3.5-acre stage, whose design was inspired by Vijayanagara (Hampi) architecture. The event was managed and coordinated by about 30,000 volunteers, many of them rural youth who have been part of a sustainable rural development project called the 5H program and participated in its Youth Leadership Training Program.

February 17, 2006: Saints and religious leaders from all of the world’s major faiths spoke for the peaceful resolution of the world’s conflicts. More than 150 religious leaders from the Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Sikh, Jain and Zoroastrian communities reinforced the need for a broader understanding of the common values across religions during the Interfaith Conference.

February 18, 2006: The evening’s speakers included business leaders, citizens of Iraq and Saudi Arabia and political leaders from countries such as Germany, France, Belgium, Mongolia and Sri Lanka. Many of them made the case for a united march toward tackling poverty, violence and corruption. Ruud Lubbers, a former prime minister of the Netherlands who currently heads the Earth’s Charter, and the King of Ghana, his royal highness Osegyefuo Amotia Ofori Panin, emphasized the importance of bringing the knowledge of the Art of Living to communities around the world in order to strengthen governance and reduce corruption.

“What a great world we live in. We speak different languages, we look different, we may eat different food but His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has brought all of us together,” the King of Ghana said. “All over the world, people are aware of the tremendous work of the Art of Living Foundation and the spirit of volunteerism it fosters in communities. His Holiness, who is the symbol of selfless humanity, has shown us that we can live together in peace and love.”

February 19, 2006: Sunday evening began with more than two million people breathing together in the rhythm of the Sudarshan Kriya. The meditation brought an otherwise noisy crowd to a complete silence, the stillness resonating throughout the airfield. Later, the President of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, laid out an integrated approach for improving society. His plan involved providing a value-based education, empowering women socially and economically, addressing stress and violence in society and economically empowering youth. Kalam noted that the Art of Living is implementing programs of this nature in India and around the world.