Amritsar students dance their way into Guinness record book
As many as 8,726 students from 40 schools of the district, who performed at Khalsa College on October 3 last year, made it to the Guinness Book of World Records on Thursday for world record with largest number of participants in a dance performance at one place.
As many as 8,726 students from 40 schools of the district, who performed at Khalsa College on October 3 last year, made it to the Guinness Book of World Records on Thursday for world record with largest number of participants in a dance performance at one place.
The initiative was taken by Amritsar-based choreographers Pankaj and Preeti, who had applied for the largest gathering of participants at a Bollywood dance performance.
However, the district administration and Amritsar deputy commissioner (DC) Ravi Bhagat had given the event a social twist by making it an antidrug campaign. Bhagat said here on Thursday: “Students from Amritsar have made it to The Guinness Book of World Records, which is a big achievement for the city. The gathering broke the earlier record of 4,428 performers at one place, belonging to a couple of choreographers from Mumbai.”
Students took pledge against drug abuse
“The administration wanted it to be a social awareness drive against drug abuse as the menace has ruined thousands of lives in Punjab. So, it was decided that this attempt of local choreographers should not only have a Bollywood twist but rather spread awareness against a social evil,” said Bhagat.
The event was supported by Sun Foundation and its chairman Vikramjit Singh Sahney, a Padma Shree awardee, and the local administration.
Event captured by CCTV cameras
The entire event was monitored by 10 CCTV cameras (many of which were mounted on drones) and was judged by 200 judges for a five-minute synchronised performance by the largest gathering of participants.
Former Indian cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi was the guest of honour on the occasion. Guided by choreographers Pankaj and Preeti and 50 more trainers, the students had performed on a few Bollywood numbers, while creating awareness against drug abuse.
“Pankaj has received an official email about the record and the certificate would take a while to reach us,” said Bhagat.
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