Ladakhi Shondol Dance sets Guinness Book of World Record

Ladies performing Shondol Dance on the concluding day of Naropa Festival at Leh. -Excelsior/Morup Stanzin
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Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Sept 21: On the concluding day of five days Naropa festival at Hemis Naro Photang as many as 299 Ladakhi ladies gracefully performed the famous traditional “Shondol” dance to set a Guinness Book of World Record for performing largest number of participation in a dance.
While ladies attired in their beautiful traditional dress with head gear “Peraq” made of the turquoise stone.
Guinness World Records official adjudicate Swapnil Dangarikar presented the record certificate to Chairman, Organizing Committee Naropa Festival Khamtak Rinpoche.
The evening concluded with renowned Indian playback singer Sonu Nigam performing live musical concerts in tribute to Naropa, along with artistes from Ladakh and the Himalayas at Naro Photang Hemis. Some of the popular Bollywood celebrities including Papon, Kailash Kher, Swaranch Mishra, Akriti Kakar, and Aditi Singh Sharma had also performed musical concerts during the 5-day festival.
Besides cultural performances, musical concerts, fashion shows and archery, several spiritual masters gave teachings and holy relics and a largest silk embroidered brocade of Buddha Amitabha were displayed for devotees to pay homage and get blessings besides hosting dialogues and discussions on issues facing the current generations and formal launching of the ‘Naropa Fellowship’, a one-year, residential, post-graduate, academic programme focused on creating and nurturing agents of change to work towards fostering an ecosystem of entrepreneurship and growth while preserving the cultural heritage of Ladakh and the Himalayan region.