ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - The VI-SH Koranne Foundation will host the Third International Peace Festival on Sunday, Oct. 5 from 2 to 6 p.m. at District56 Main Hall, 8230 Civic Center Drive.

The event honors the International Day of Peace, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981, and brings the global celebration to the greater Sacramento region.

Founded in May 2016, the VI-SH Koranne Foundation is a charitable organization serving communities in the United States and India. It hosted its first Peace Festival in 2019, paused during the pandemic and returned in 2024 for its second gathering.

This year’s festival, sponsored by the City of Elk Grove, continues the theme of unity and peace with art, cultural performances, educational panels and community resources for families and individuals.

Music and dance from diverse cultures will be on full display at the Third International Festival from 2 to 6 p.m. Oct. 5, including a Heritage Parade with performances from India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Mexico and Latin America at District56 (8230 Civic Center Drive).

Honorary director Heera Kulkarni, a longtime resident and former educator with the Elk Grove Unified School District, said inclusivity has always been her guiding principle. Inspired by the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, Kulkarni envisioned a large-scale event to honor Gandhi’s legacy of nonviolence and peace.

“My father was a youth volunteer working with Mahatma Gandhi. I was very much influenced through my father for the Gandhian approach of non-violence in fostering peace even if someone feels aggrieved by injustice,” Kulkarni said.

The festival will open with a panel that will address topics related to peace in their area of expertise featuring Dr. Bill Durston of Americans Against Gun Violence, Tammy Wu of City of Dharma Realm Schools, Consumnes River College Regenerative Foodways professor Dr. Serena Fuller and Kaiser Permanente nurse Juliana Bianes, who will discuss “Peace on Your Plate.”

Visitors will also be able to connect with organizations such as Sacramento Area Peace Action, SacTown Veg Society, SMUD, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and the Filipino nonprofit BLPAPA.

The program will include a social justice-themed art exhibit by award-winning Elk Grove artist William (Bill) Larsen, as well as an interactive calligraphy station led by local artist Annie Peony, where guests can create Chinese peace symbols to take home.

Family-friendly activities will include a youth poster contest for ages 8 to 18, with prizes of $50. The theme is “Peace Begins with Me,” and entries must be submitted before the festival. All posters will be displayed at the event. Contest guidelines are available at korannefoundation.org.

Music and dance will also fill the day, including a Heritage Parade with performances from India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Mexico and Latin America. The schedule also features a communitywide Dandiya dance, a Breaking Barriers performance by local artist Neil Nayyar, spoken-word poetry, the Westminster Presbyterian’s 40-member Peace and Justice Choir, and a meditation session led by the City of Dharma Realm.

Another highlight will be the recognition of this year’s Peace Ambassadors, an award introduced in 2024 to honor city officials and community members who have made outstanding contributions toward peace. Last year’s recipients included Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, and this year’s honorees will be announced during the festival.

 

The Third International Peace Festival from 2 to 6 p.m. Oct. 5 will feature poetry performances and a special art exhibit on social justice themes. 

“This festival will focus on uniting our diverse communities,” Kulkarni said. “Peace begins at the individual level, which supports peace within families. Families at peace contribute to a peaceful community.”

She added that the Peace Festival goes beyond cultural celebration by creating space for dialogue.

“Many people ask how this festival differs from a multicultural festival. At the Peace Festival, we create opportunities for the audience to engage in conversations about peace, rather than being passive observers of performances.”