Himachal Kullu Nati sets Guinness Book record

Shimla : A colourful Himalayan valley dance has made it to the Guinness World Book records as the largest group dance of its kind.

Nati is the pahari dialect word for the centuries old folk dance performed in the hills of Himachal Pradesh.Most of the movements are languid but can also be quick sometimes.

“We have received a confirmation from the Guiness Book of World Records that the Nati dance performed at the Kullu Dussehra festival on Oct 26 in Kullu town last year has made it to the Guinness Book,” Rakesh Kanwar, deputy commissioner Kullu district said by phone from Kullu 240 km from here.

“9,892 people danced to set a world record of the biggest ‘nati’ folk dance. They were dressed in colurful local traditional dress and were mostly women in an effort to promote the awareness of the girl child,” Kanwar told Sun Post.

Officials say around 13,000 dancers took part in the event organised on the rolling meadows of Kullu town located at the edge of the Beas river. But only 9,892 were registered by officials as there were strict rules, including bar-coded chips for each participant, due to which many were left unregistered.

The scenic Kullu valley is popular with visitors from across the world. Officials say the Guinness dance entry will further popularise the valley’s local culture.

“We will provide participation certificates to all the dancers and those who assisted in organising the mass dance,” he said.

In 2014 this dance made it to the Limca records book by registering 8,540 participants during the annual Kullu Dussehra festival.