Andhra Singers set new world record at Laksha Gala Sankirthanarchana

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HYDERABAD: A whopping 160,000 people sang in chorus seven keerthanas, or hymns

in praise of god, of Telugu saint-poet Thallapaka Annamacharya here on Sunday

evening, and broke a 70-year-old world record.

 

A representative of the Guinness Book of World Records announced that the

previous record is broken at the grand spiritual musical event, organised to

mark the 601st birth anniversary of Annamacharya.

 

" I have great pleasure in announcing that more than 70 years later the

record has been broken, " said Guinness Book representative Raymond Marshal amid

thunderous applause at the sprawling Parade Grounds in Secunderabad, Hyderabad's

twin city.

 

He also presented the certificate from Guinness Book of World Records to state

Minister for Finance K. Rosaiah.

 

It was on Aug 2, 1937, that 60,000 people sang the national anthem in

Germany to set the world record.

 

The programme, 'Laksha Gala Sankirthanarchana', was organised jointly by

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the Andhra Pradesh state cultural council

and Andhra Silicon. The organisers said 160,000 people sang the keerthanas in

one voice.

 

Renowned Carnatic musician M. Balamurali Krishna, singer Kavitha

Krishnamurthy and her husband L. Subramanyam and Garimella Balakrishna

Prasad led 160,000 singers, both professionals and amateurs. Telugu actor

Nagarjuna, who acted in film " Annamayya " , was also present.

 

Annamacharya, who was born in 1408, composed 32,000 Sankeerthans eulogising Lord

Venkateswara. The TTD, which manages the affairs of the Lord Venkateshwara

temple at Tirumala, is organising Annamacharya's 601st birth anniversary

celebrations on a grand scale.

 

TTD chairman D.K. Audikesavulu Naidu announced that Tallapaka, the

birthplace of Annamacharya in Kadapa district, will be developed as a major

spiritual centre.

 

The TTD is also making efforts to propagate Keerthanas of the first Telugu lyric

poet worldwide by organising spiritual programmes, including group rendering of

Sankeerthans and lectures on his literary works.