Assam’s Bihu dance achieved global recognition on April 13, 2023, securing a place in the Guinness World Records. Over 11,000 participants converged at Guwahati’s Sarusajai Stadium for this historic moment celebrating the state’s cultural heritage. However, a Right to Information (RTI) application sheds light on the significant cost associated with this feat.
The Assam government reportedly paid ₹1,66,82,722 to Guinness World Records to secure two titles: largest Bihu dance performance and largest performance by traditional folk musicians. The breakdown reveals ₹59 lakh for the Bihu dance record and ₹23.6 lakh for the musician record. Interestingly, consultancy fees for both attempts amounted to a combined ₹84.2 lakh, raising concerns about the purpose and necessity of such high expenses.
This information regarding the event’s financial management, particularly the high consultancy fees, remained undisclosed until the RTI reply. This raises questions about potential transparency issues. The information was revealed by the Assam Electronics Corporation Limited (AMTRON) in response to an RTI application filed by Satra Mukti Sangram Samitee president Devabrata Saikia.