Bengaluru: Prime Minister of Bharat, Narendra Modi, will address the landmark 45th anniversary celebrations of The Art of Living on May 10 at the organisation’s International Center in Bengaluru. The event also coincides with the 70th birthday celebrations of its founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
The celebrations are expected to witness participation from more than 182 countries, both online and offline, bringing together government leaders, civil servants, entrepreneurs, farmers, students, homemakers, professionals and thousands of international delegates in what is being described as one of the largest global gatherings for a humanitarian and spiritual movement.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to deliver the keynote address during the celebrations. He will also inaugurate the newly constructed Dhyan Mandir, a dedicated meditation hall at the International Center, besides launching several nationwide service initiatives focusing on mental well-being, rural development, environmental conservation and social transformation.
A major highlight of the month-long celebrations will be a Global Meditation for World Peace, led by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on May 13, which will be livestreamed worldwide and open to participants across the globe.
Founded in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, The Art of Living has evolved into a global volunteer-driven humanitarian and educational organisation with presence in 182 countries. Through programmes such as Sudarshan Kriya and a range of social and community initiatives, the organisation claims to have touched over a billion lives worldwide.
Several key events have been lined up as part of the celebrations, including global leadership dialogues and summits focusing on ethics in governance, business, media, education, culture and civil society. Cultural festivals featuring music, dance and artistic traditions from countries where The Art of Living operates are also planned.
The organisation will also conduct recognition ceremonies honouring “Unsung Everyday Heroes” across more than 450 districts in India. Policy and thematic roundtables on sustainable and humane approaches to governance and public services are also part of the agenda.
Among the notable programmes is a policy roundtable on Prisoner Welfare and Policy Reforms scheduled for May 25 and 26, focusing on rehabilitation initiatives and the impact of The Art of Living’s programmes for prison inmates.
In another significant initiative, the BIMSTEC Youth Leadership Exchange, organised in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, brought together young leaders from all seven BIMSTEC nations for a leadership immersion programme at the Bengaluru centre.
The organisers said the celebrations reflect India’s growing cultural and spiritual influence globally, with The Art of Living playing a role in promoting India’s traditional wisdom and wellness practices across continents.
Prime Minister Modi, in a message on the occasion, said, “The Art of Living taught people to act with awareness, with compassion, with rootedness. That is yoga in its truest sense. And this is why, when the world today looks for answers to anxiety, to conflict, to disconnection — it looks, increasingly, toward India.”
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said the organisation’s mission over the past four-and-a-half decades has been to build a healthier and happier society.
“The sign of a healthy society is to see a smile on every face. That is the goal we have been working toward for forty-five years,” he said.
