The document discusses the participation of Omani delegates at the World Culture Festival held in New Delhi in 2016. It summarizes the experiences and impressions of several Omani participants, including Nabil Al Mahrooqi, an English teacher who found the large scale of the event surprising but enjoyed the cultural performances. It also mentions Saeed Al Thuhli, a mathematics teacher who appreciated meeting people from different countries. Overall, the Omani delegates seemed to enjoy representing their country at the international event and viewing the variety of cultural displays.

1. Weekend Special

2. Feast for the Senses

3. On a dark overcast sky over the banks of Yamuna,
the only palpable excitement was among the
youthful lads from Oman. As the curtains came
down on the recent World Culture Festival 2016, the
largest celebration of culture and spiritual integration.
Nabil Al Mahrooqi, Nadeem Al Balushi, Saeed
Athuhli, Fahad Al Harbi, and Sameera were part of
the Middle East at WCF.
From the Middle East and the Arab world, singers
representing Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, UAE, Morocco,
including the Sultanate of Oman, held sway.
Delegates from the Middle East countries including
which performed as part of the opening ceremony
during the festival on March 13.
The festival marked the 35th anniversary of Art
of Living, the organisation, started by Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar.
Liju Cherian
8 April 7, 2016
Weekend Special

4. delegation were overjoyed at their
represented the Sultanate at the festival.
Nabil Al Mahrooqi from Nizwa is an
English teacher at the Ministry of Social
Development (MSW).
When he was invited to be part of the
New Delhi WCF, Nabil had no clue how
it would be. He imagined it to be ‘a family
gathering and a public venue for political
peace talks but this was just a welcoming
from Muscat and landed in New Delhi on
a cold, wintry morning. The vagaries of
the New Delhi weather surprised Nabil no
end. “They told us to wear our jackets to
protect against the weather but surprisingly
it was hot that night. And during the same
afternoon it was raining heavily and it was
only then we found out that we had not
taken our umbrellas. However, we enjoyed
getting wet that day,” he adds gleefully.
was the huge open area set up. Nabil
recalls, “About seven acres of clean stage
was organised for the huge event. They
divided the gates and numbered them
so everyone goes from his/her gate
according to the gate pass delivered to
them. They provided almost everything
that was needed; cellphone shops, snacks
spots, information desks and a big counter
only for serving every day meals.”
“There were signs showing how to get
to your seat and hundreds of volunteers
guiding and helping them. The stage
was beautiful, very colorful and perfectly
planned.”
Nabil sums it up saying the different
dance traditions and performances were
a treat to the eyes and it was lovely and
charming and was happy to be part of
such an incredible event. I am thankful to
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, he says.
Saeed Al Thuhli, a Mathematics teacher,
from the Ministry of Education (MoE),
who was part of the delegation, says it
was a great opportunity to meet so many
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Mahrooqi, a teacher
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Nabil Al Mahrooqi, Saeed Athuhli,
Fahad Al Harbi
Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar
with Oman
delegation
9April 7, 2016
Weekend Special

5. participants from different countries and
so many leaders from Art of Living. “The
event was impeccably organized and would
like to thank the committees set up for the
successful conduct of a well-executed
event.”
Samira, admits it was a ‘feast for the
she got an opportunity to meet so many
people from all walks of life and from
different nationalities and cultures.
“I felt happy to be part of a fantastic
exposure. What amazed me was the
pervasive happiness all around, boisterous
do not want to miss out of such an event in
the future.”
Nadeem Al Balushi, an Omani singer, was
chosen by AOL to perform at the WCF.
Nadeem sang with two other singers from
Jordan, and was supported by a chorus. It
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10 April 7, 2016
Weekend Special

6. was an experience of a lifetime, says Nadeem, who
was privileged to be part of a very colourful event
with an audience of thousands of people, including
Sri Sri himself. Apart from Nadeem, there were
two other Omanis in the chorus. So overwhelmed
was he at the event that he was delighted when he
got himself an opportunity to snap with Gurudev.
Personally, it was a great event for me, says
Nadeem.
Ajay-Kamal Khimji family and children Hritik, Mihir,
Anil and Anita were also part of the delegation from
Oman.
Says Ajay Khimji: “WCF was a one-time experience
nationalities around the world to witness live music
dance and culture. Thanks to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
for his vision to make it a reality which was live on
webcast in over 155 countries.
For Kamal Ajay Khimji it was truly a phenomenon
since the enthusiasm of the people was itself a sign
of their joy, unity and bonding for the reunion of
One World Family. “Thousands of performers met
11April 7, 2016
Weekend Special

7. adds.
Dr Prema Seshadri, a senior international
faculty with AOL, says WCF was a
celebration of goodness. The festival
was the giving of expression to the innate
philosophy of Gurudev that happiness lies
in inclusiveness, in belonging, in Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam, a one-world family.
For Dr Prema, the festival made her
proud to see the cultures of the world
come together on one mammoth stage.
“It made me full and content to see the
hues of happiness radiate right across the
me with hope for a much better world
in a very near and foreseeable future. It
strengthened my resolve to be part of
purpose for living and life,” she admits.
Bureau of Communication (ABC), Dr Prema
recent successful mediation in bringing
peace in Cuba after decades of strife is an
indication of how it is possible to achieve
the same in every part of the world. It
centers and successful empowerment
programmes in Iraq.
The most amazing aspect of WCF, was its
Communications, Khimji Ramdas. He says
the Delhi WCF was spectacular in that it
12 April 7, 2016
Weekend Special

8. had cultural performances from across the world,
and was received by enthusiastic audiences, dancing
to the music in the aisles.
“You could have mistaken it to be a gathering of
not a few hundreds but thousands. Such was the
points out. For Rajiv this was the third WCF which
he participated having earlier taken part at cultural
festivals in Bangalore (2006) and Berlin (2011).
The AOL is an organisation that has been at the
forefront of rejuvenating and cleaning rivers. Over
the last few years, their volunteers have been
working on reviving 16 rivers across India.
The Festival reverberated with hope that the
world can come together and work towards peace
despite differences in faiths and beliefs. WCF stands
as a testament to the secular and united nature
of India also witnessed many faith and spiritual
leaders coming together to promote the message
of harmony. It was a musical and cultural ode to the
spirit of humanity, teamwork and the diverse traditions
that bind citizens of the world into a ‘One World
Australia and Mexico are in the reckoning to host the
next WCF. However, no decision has yet been taken.
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13April 7, 2016
Weekend Special