Ravi Shankar takes a dig at critics, says he belongs to all

"I just want to say, I belong to all," said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the head of the Art of Living Foundation, in his welcome address on Friday to the large gathering at the World Culture Festival being held here.

"People of many countries are here to send one message that we are One World family," he told the audience witnessing the cultural extravaganza which invited controversy for being held on the ecologically sensitive flood plain of river Yamuna and for receiving government help.

Ravi Shankar said four or five things unite the world and these include sports, art and culture, economics, intellectual pursuits, and spirituality.

He took a dig at those who attacked the three-day event as a "private" affair receiving government help and said the whole world is "my family".

"Life is a struggle. We have to march on but to transform this march into a celebration is an art," he told the delegates from across the country and abroad and in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.