The city of Jacksonville, Florida, has officially declared June 16 as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Peace and Wellness Day. This proclamation recognizes the lifelong contributions of the spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living Foundation, which has been instrumental in promoting meditation and peace initiatives globally.
The declaration was made by the Mayor of Jacksonville during a special ceremony held at the University of North Florida. This event celebrated Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s transformative impact on millions of people worldwide. With Jacksonville's announcement, it joins 31 other cities across North America, including Austin, Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, St. Louis, Mobile, Plano, Allen, Columbus, Cincinnati, Ottawa, Edmonton, and Halifax, in dedicating a day to honor Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Under the leadership of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the Art of Living Foundation has become the world’s largest volunteer-driven organization, impacting over 800 million lives in 180 countries. The Foundation is renowned for its trauma-relief programs, youth leadership initiatives, and ecological restoration efforts, aiming to build a sustainable and peaceful society.
Gurudev, as he is affectionately known, founded the Art of Living organization in 1981 to make meditation accessible to everyone. For nearly 45 years, he has been leading meditation programs, providing people with tools to cope with stress and mental health challenges. In a significant gathering in 2005, over 2.5 million people from around 150 countries meditated together with him during The Art of Living's Silver Jubilee celebration in Bengaluru, India.
As the world grapples with issues such as rising stress and polarization, the declaration of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Peace and Wellness Day serves as a reminder of the importance of cultivating inner peace to facilitate external transformation.
