INDIANS, IT’S time to cheer up again! Shillong (Meghalaya), known as the Scotland of the East has entered into the Guinness Book of World Records by breaking the world record of the largest guitar ensemble on earth, on Friday.

 

A record number of 1730 guitarists strummed persistently for five minutes to Bob Dylan’s classic "Knocking on Heaven’s door" and broke the previous record set by 1721 guitarists from Kansas City, US who strummed Deep Purple’s "Smoke on the water" in September 2006.

 

Even though none of the representatives from the Guinness Book of World Records was present, State Director General of Police (DGP) BK Dey Sawian and Dr Lapynshai Syiem, NEHU (North Eastern Hill University) music lecturer were the adjudicators as per the laid norms of the Guinness Record book.

 

Everyone participating in the great musical ensemble seemed hugging each other while BK Dey Sawain uttered, "Shillong you broke a world record and created a new record for the largest guitar ensemble with 1730 guitarists. ” The Jawaharlal Nehru Sports’ complex, the venue of the mega event turned into a musical paradise with crowds breaking out into rapturous cheers and embracing each other with bear hugs.

 

Even little kids like seven years old Mariam Sangma and eleven years old Dominique Alex seemed happy in the company of there parents who are also guitar enthusiasts.

 

With such an achievement it becomes clear that the North East part of India has got many things to offer to the country’s pride. Particularly Shillong, the place of Lou Majaw, the hill town’s premier rocker-poet-troubadour and Mermaid, the first ever-female professional rock band in India will definitely emerge as a musical state if necessary grooming being implemented.

 

Another participant in the concert, Subhas Arangbam of Royal Riders said: “This is to prove that the North-east has more than insurgency, which the outside world thinks.”