Meghalaya has 'banged the drum' for herself and her sister-states announcing to the world of the region's 'positive vibrations'. Welcome to Northeast India's Meghalaya, the abode of clouds, recording the highest rainfall in the world annually; now also home to the official world record of the largest drum ensemble.
7951 amateur and professional drummers, young and old, smashed the record held by Phungkek charity, Hongkong today, by assembling 226 more drummers than the earlier record, here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex, Polo.
"Congratulations, for creating a new world record," Guinness World record adjudicator, Michael Whitty's proclamation was greeted with thunderous beats of raised coloured drums of Red, Green and yellow.
"Yes, we did it," exclaimed Judy Nongbet giving her friend, Margaret Swer a bear-hug, who in turn rushed near one of the Cameras and peering into it screamed: "Can the world hear us now. Are we audible?"
The atmosphere was one of general euphoria in the stadium and in the city today. Thousands of people, of all age and colour, lined up in the stadium from afternoon today, after rehearsing for months on the composition 'positive vibrations.'
Drummers were divided into three groups with Red, Green and Yellow drums and each given different beats. Traditional drummers from the region added colour to the event with their participation.
Based on the beats of individual groups the composition (positive vibrations) continued for over five minutes as per Guinness Book guidelines till the record was broken.
But, not everything was music with 'positive vibrations' when the idea was mooted. Some discordant notes were struck from different quarters. These were harmonized soon into a record breaking performance, by many who played conductors.
First questions on the use of contemporary drums for the event were raised. Than anonymous pamphlets, declaring such events as 'unholy and satanic' and urging people to stay out of it, was distributed.
But, today, laughter, smile and joy, together with colourful confetti, flower petals (showered by Air Force helicopters), bear-hugs, was shared amongst the public.
RG Lyngdoh, Chairman of the Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum, (chief organizer) said, this record would hopefully take people of the region from 'negativity to a positive approach' towards life and overall development.
Others simply termed it as a historical event. But, little 7-year-old, Lipika Chakraborty, a world record holder, gushed: "Hmm… I enjoyed it. This festival had so many people."
Surely, she maybe right, this could be the beginning of a prolonged festival for the region.
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