2,800 Kuchipudi dancers set Guinness record

About 2,800 Kuchipudi artistes performed the centuries old dance form in Hyderabad on Sunday to earn a place in the Guinness World Records, an official said.

Hailing from 16 countries, including India, the dancers held the audience spellbound at a colourful programme at Gacchibowli Stadium.

An official of Guinness World Records, who was present on the occasion, handed over a certificate to the organisers.

Organised jointly by California-based Silicon Andhra and Andhra Pradesh government, the event saw the artists performing the `maha brunda natyam` in the mould of Sidhendra Yogi's dance form.

President Pratibha Patil, Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development D. Purandareswari and hundreds of others enjoyed the splendid show.

`I congratulate all the artistes who participated in this feat. It is a matter of pride for the country,` Patil said after watching the 20-minute performance.

Text: IANS

Image: A total of 2,800 artistes perform the classical Kuchipudi dance at GMC Balayogi Stadium at Gachibowli in Hyderabad on Sunday, Dec 26, 2010. (Photographs copyright PTI)