Shillong: A band of drummers in Meghalaya on Saturday created a new world record for the largest drum ensemble, a Guinness official said.
"A new Guinness world record was created with 7,951 drummers performing for more than five minutes in perfect rhythm," a representative of the Guinness Book of World Records, Michael Whitty, announced after the event.
The previous record was set in February 2005 by Po Leung Kuk, a charity organisation in Hong Kong helping orphaned children, who assembled 7,727 drummers.
"We are delighted indeed to create history," said Vice Chairman of the Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF), M Lansing.
The large group of drummers played a synchronised tune called 'Positive Vibrations' for close to 20 minutes composed by a local musician, Rudy Wallang, at an open stadium.
Whitty later handed over a certificate to the organisers of the event for having set the new record.
The ensemble also kicked off the state's week-long Autumn Festival as more than 20,000 people witnessed the event.
"The participants included professionals, school children and villagers. There were about 1,000 indigenous drums being played in the event alongside the normal small drums," said MTDF General Secretary, Aiban S Mawkhroh.
"I am very happy to be part of history," said one of the drummers, Paul Marbaniang.
Organisers of the event said the record breaking beat session should help change the perception of people towards the region.
"This record breaking drum ensemble has proved beyond doubt that this region is not just about killings and violence and we are capable of positive things as well," Mawkhroh said.
The Autumn Festival would have events like water sports, kite flying, fishing, archery, besides jugglers and entertainers from Australia.
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