By India Today News Desk: Assam on Thursday created a world record with 11,304 dancers and drummers performing Bihu dance at a single venue, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Bihu dance will also be performed before Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.

PM Modi will be on a day-long visit to Assam on Friday.

Himanta Biswa Sarma also received a Geographical Indication registration certificate for the ‘gamosa’, the traditional Assamese scarf. The GI tag for gamosa was given in December last year.

Thursday’s show was the largest performance of the folk dance form, Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

In the presence of an adjudicator from the Guinness World Records headquarters in London, the performers presented their show and achieved the global feat for Bihu dance and dhol playing.

“We have made world records for both Bihu dance as well as Bihu dhols with 11,304 dancers and drummers. It is the largest Bihu dance and Bihu dhol performance in a single venue,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati.

The process of registering Bihu in the Guinness World Records was initiated by the Assam government, and the cost was borne by its culture department, an official said.

The performers will showcase the ‘Bihu’ dance in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be on a day-long visit to Guwahati on Friday.

The Guinness certificates will be handed over in his presence, the official said.

Himanta received the Geographical Indication registration certificate for ‘gamosa’ from Controller General of Patent, Designs and Trademarks and Registrar of GI Registry Unnat P Pandit.

‘Gamosa’, a symbol of the culture and identity of Assam, received the GI tag from the central government in December 2022, five years after the first application was made.

A GI is tagged to primarily agricultural, natural or manufactured products, handicrafts and industrial goods originating from a definite geographical territory.

The ‘gamosa’, a handwoven rectangular cotton piece of cloth with red borders and different designs and motifs, is traditionally offered to elders and guests as a mark of respect and honour by Assamese people.

It is an integral part of all socio-religious ceremonies in the state and is considered as an Assamese identity and pride.

A ‘gamosa’ literally means a towel and is commonly used in Assamese households for day-to-day affairs and also on special occassions.

(With PTI inputs)