New Delhi: The three-day World Culture Festival, which began here on Friday after much uncertainty for many days, was the big talking point on micro-blogging site Twitter. While the critics called the rain which lashed the city ahead of the mega event the arath of the rain gods, the suporters said it was nature's way of blessing.
"And it's raining as world culture festival begins. We can conquer man, not nature!," tweeted noted journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, perhaps expecting a washout of the event on its first day.
And it's raining as world culture festival begins. We can conquer man, not nature!
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) March 11, 2016
Ashoke Pandit, a film maker, viewed more optimistically the rains that accompanied the start of the event.
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"Rain God Celebrating #WorldCultureFestival with the participants. Blessings," he tweeted.
The official twitter handle of the organisers -- World Culture Fest@WCF2016, said: "Heavy showers at the venue have not dimmed the spirit of the Dhangari Dhols at the #worldCultureFestival!"
Eyewitness account said rainbow was sighted over the venue with people cheering "it's a miracle".
The cultural extravaganza, organised here by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's the Art of Living Foundation, invited controversy for the choice of the venue, namely the ecologically sensitive Yamuna flood plains, and for receiving government help.
The event was dragged to the National Green Tribunal which castigated the organisers and the government agencies for flouting environmental safeguards and fined the Art of Living Rs.5 crore.
Take that! Argentinians singing Jai Ram, Sri Ram Voluntarily - That is what #WorldCultureFestival does. Unite!!! pic.twitter.com/g2rS4NVfDi
— Suresh En (@surnell) March 11, 2016
The Land of Bharat shines a spiritual beacon of bright light in this epic #WorldCultureFestival The world is watching #ProudIndian
— अnjana (@_Baatcutter) March 11, 2016
This is a Kumbh Mela of culture: PM @narendramodi at the #WorldCultureFestival @ArtofLiving @SriSri
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 11, 2016
Revenge of the Yamuna. #WCF pic.twitter.com/TFsfQhrbGI
— Zakka Jacob (@Zakka_Jacob) March 11, 2016
(With agency inputs)