World Culture Festival begins in Delhi

New Delhi, March 11 (IANS) The three-day World Culture Festival being organised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar-led Art Of Living Foundation commenced here on Friday evening after initial disruptions caused by rain and traffic snarls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the venue shortly after 5.30 p.m.

Thousands of people were already gathered at the sprawling Yamuna floodplains for the event that is expected to draw lakhs of people over the next three days. People from different parts of the world are also expected to attend the mega event of music and dance.

The National Green Tribunal on Friday cleared the decks for the event and gave Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's foundation three more weeks to pay Rs.5 crore in damages for holding the jamboree on the ecologically fragile Yamuna floodplains in Delhi.