Assam attempts shot at Guinness World Records for largest Bihu dance

By
IndiGlobal Media
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  • 11,140 folk dancers, drummers to perform Bihu dance on April 14, PM Modi to attend
  • The event will be held at Sarusajai Athletics Stadium on the first day of the Assamese New Year on April 14, 2023

IndiGlobal Bureau

Come April 14, the Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati will be engulfed in a sea of colour, song and dance as 11,140 folk dancers and drummers from all districts of the state will perform Bihu dance in the presence of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma union ministers, chief ministers and governors of other states and diplomats of G20 and ASEAN countries. This will be an attempt at Guinness World Records for the largest Bihu dance at a single venue.

FACT FILE
What: Bihu dance
When: April 14
Where: Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati
Duration: 15 minutes
Number: 11,140 drummers & dancers

The state machinery is working overtime to make the event a grand success and rehearsals are underway. According to sources, senior officials of the Assam Government have personally met Governors of other states to extend invitation. A senior official said, “The Government is keen on taking Bihu dance beyond Assam and popularize it.” All the participants will be given an allowance of Rs 10,500 with which they will buy two pairs of costumes.

In a recent press conference, the Assam CM, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Bihu is the lifeline of Assam. The Assamese celebrate Bihu thrice a year, which signify the distinct cycles of farming– Bhogali/Magh Bihu (January), Bohag/Rongali Bihu (April), and Kongali Bihu (October).

It may be noted that on April 14-15 every year, Rongali or Bohag Bihu, which heralds the Assamese New Year is widely celebrated across Assam, and parts of Manipur and Bengal.

Future plans

The CM said, “Our attempt will be to organise the largest Bihu dance performance at a single venue and make it to the Guinness World Records. We want to surpass Kullu’s record of largest Nati dance participated by 9892 in Himachal Pradesh. We want to popularise Bihu outside Assam and take it to world stage. Our next attempt would be to include Bagurumba dance of Bodo community in the record book next year. We are already in talks with the Bodoland Territorial Council.

From next year, the state govt will hold a seven-day Bihu celebration at Rang Ghar, an Ahom-era amphitheatre in Sivasagar and Guwahati on the lines of Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival and will be included in Assam’s calendar. Assam decided to offer grants of Rs 1.5 lakh to each Bihu celebration committee.