Art of dumping: Garbage mess at World Culture Festival

Garbage piles up at the site of the Art of Living's World Culture Festival on the Yamuna riverbed in Delhi. The controversial three-day festival ended on Sunday. Green groups accused the festival’s organisers of ripping up vegetation and ruining the river’s fragile ecosystem by damaging its bed and disrupting water flows. (Sushil Kumar/ HT Photo)

Updated on: Mar 15, 2016 12:51 AM IST

News

Share via

• 
• 
• 
• 

Copy link

• 

1/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Mar 15, 2016 12:51 AM

Garbage piles up at the site of the Art of Living's World Culture Festival on the Yamuna riverbed in Delhi. The controversial three-day festival ended on Sunday. Green groups accused the festival’s organisers of ripping up vegetation and ruining the river’s fragile ecosystem by damaging its bed and disrupting water flows. (Sushil Kumar/ HT Photo)

2/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Mar 15, 2016 12:51 AM

The National Green Tribunal allowed the event but fined spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation Rs 5 crore. (Sushil Kumar/ HT photo)

3/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Mar 15, 2016 12:51 AM

An estimated 3.5 million people were said to have visited the festival, prompting green groups to claim the event will damage the Yamuna’s fragile ecosystem. (Raj K Raj/ HT photo)

4/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Mar 15, 2016 12:51 AM

Farmers who plough the banks of Yamuna also accused organisers of forcing them off the land. (Sushil Kumar/ HT photo)

5/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Mar 15, 2016 12:51 AM

The Delhi high court called the World Cultural Festival an “ecological disaster” but did not ban it. (Raj K Raj/ HT PHOTO)

6/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Mar 15, 2016 12:51 AM

The festival reportedly had the world’s biggest ever performing stage. It was supposed to accommodate a symphony orchestra of 8,500 and 20,000 performers. (Sushil Kumar/ HT photo)

7/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Mar 15, 2016 12:51 AM

Art of Living leader Ravi Shankar, who enjoys a cult following in India and abroad, has rejected criticism, saying the event will actually help Yamuna. (Sushil Kumar/ HT Photo)

8/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Mar 15, 2016 12:51 AM

Garbage piles up at the site of the Art of Living's World Culture Festival on Monday after the three-day festival came to an end. (Sushil Kumar/ HT photo)

9/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Mar 15, 2016 12:51 AM

Shankar said the Art of Living should be “lauded and rewarded” and not criticised for choosing Yamuna riverbank as the venue for the festival. (Raj K Raj/ HT photo)

10/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Mar 15, 2016 12:51 AM

Vegetable crops appear damaged at the Art of Living's World Culture Festival. (Raj K Raj/ HT photo)

11/11

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Mar 15, 2016 12:51 AM

A farmer removes garbage after the World Culture Festival ended on Sunday. (Raj K Raj/ HT photo)