Grand Classical Dance Marathon Guinness World Record to Elevate the Prestige of Dance Practitioners: Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav stated that the grand classical dance marathon, dedicated to the worship of the divine and now a Guinness World Record, will elevate the prestige of dance practitioners. He emphasized that this achievement is a proud moment for the country’s culture and artists. It is a significant means to preserve cultural heritage and gain international recognition.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the 51st Khajuraho Dance Festival, Dr. Yadav expressed that through this Guinness World Record, the world will witness India’s diverse and rich cultural legacy. The continuous 24-hour 9-minute 26-second dance performance by 139 artists has not only inspired art practitioners but also strengthened government initiatives to preserve culture and heritage.

Dr. Yadav praised Bundelkhand’s sacred land, stating, “Here, even stones shine like diamonds, and people shine like Bundelas. Similarly, when dance flourishes in Bundelkhand, it becomes the internationally renowned Khajuraho Dance Festival.”

He highlighted that classical dance was originally created as a form of devotion to the divine. Kathakali portrays Lord Krishna’s Raas Leela and life events, while Lord Nataraja’s Tandava and Ananda dances symbolize cosmic energy. The Guinness World Record reflects the continuity of time through an uninterrupted classical dance performance, similar to how galaxies move towards black holes and celestial bodies remain in constant motion.

Record Set with Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, and Odissi Performances

The Guinness World Record attempt began at 2:34 PM on February 19, 2025, and concluded at 2:43 PM on February 20, 2025, with dance practitioners performing continuously for 24 hours and 9 minutes. This monumental achievement has now been registered in the name of Madhya Pradesh.

A total of 139 dancers participated in the event, presenting Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, and Odissi in a grand Classical Dance Marathon (Relay). The final performance featured Bharatanatyam and the Guinness World Records team officially certified it as a world record, presenting the certificate to Chief Minister Dr. Yadav.

Following this, all 139 dancers performed a synchronized presentation of Tarana ‘Anant’ before the Chief Minister. Dr. Yadav, along with Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Religious Trust & Endowments (Independent Charge) Shri Dharmendra Bhav Singh Lodhi, Khajuraho MP V.D. Sharma, and other dignitaries, participated in a group photo with the record-holders.

The ceremony was inaugurated with a lamp-lighting ritual, and a souvenir publication of the Khajuraho Dance Festival was also released.

Sixth Guinness World Record under CM Dr. Yadav’s Leadership

Minister Dharmendra Lodhi stated that under Dr. Yadav’s leadership, the government is making efforts to preserve and globally recognize cultural heritage, with this being the sixth Guinness World Record achieved. He elaborated on the objectives and planning behind the international Khajuraho Dance Festival.

MP V.D. Sharma called the festival a matter of pride for Bundelkhand, emphasizing that this Guinness World Record reflects innovative initiatives in culture and arts by the government, boosting morale among art enthusiasts.

State Rupankar Art Awards 2024-25

The State Rupankar Art Awards were presented during inauguration ceremony. Dattatraya Damodar Devalalikar Award to Divya Porwal, Raghunath Krishna Rao Phadke Award to Veena Singh, Narayan Sridhar Bendre Award to Rashmi Kuril, Mukund Sakharam Bhande Award to Nitesh Panchal, and Devkrishna Jatashankar Joshi to Ujjwal Ojha, Jagdish Swaminathan Award to Preeti Potdar Jain, Syed Haider Raza Award to Manish Singh, Lakshmi Singh Rajput Award to Pallavi Verma, Rammanohar Sinha Award to Shubhamraj Ahirwar, and Vishnu Chinchalkar Award was presented to to Lucky Jaiswal.

Showcasing Five Cultural Regions at Aadivart Museum

The Aadivart Tribal Folk Art & State Museum unveiled five cultural regions of Madhya Pradesh – Malwa, Nimar, Chambal, Bundelkhand, and Baghelkhand. These regions were showcased through traditional houses, household items, and folk deities, offering visitors and international tourists an immersive experience of local culture.

Energetic Performances by Young Dancers

For the first time, the festival included the Khajuraho Children’s Dance Festival, encouraging young talent and inspiring the next generation towards dance.

The event was inaugurated by renowned actress and dancer Prachi Shah, along with Chhatarpur Collector Parth Jaiswal, Superintendent of Police Agam Jain, Culture.