Kuala Lumpur

In a significant display of cultural outreach and soft power diplomacy, the Indian diaspora in Malaysia is set to attempt an entry into the Malaysia Book of Records during the high-profile “Selamat Datang Modiji” event.

The record attempt is scheduled for the evening of February 7, 2026, at the MINES International Exhibition & Convention Centre (MIECC), in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Organised under the banner of the Indian Community Cultural Committee, around 800 dancers will perform a single, continuous five-minute choreographed presentation. The attempt is titled “Largest Number of Dancers in a Single Choreographed Dance Representing a Wide Variety of Indian Classical and Folk Dance Forms Performed by the Indian Diaspora.”

The performance is aimed at showcasing the preservation of India’s cultural heritage among the diaspora while serving as a cultural bridge between India and Malaysia.

Designed as a “miniature India,” the choreography brings together multiple Indian classical and folk traditions. The performance will feature Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kathak, Kathakali, Mohiniattam, Kuchipudi, and Yakshagana, along with folk forms such as Lavani, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Odia, Bihu, and Tamil dances.

“We will have 800 dancers performing dance forms for five minutes as we attempt to enter the Malaysia Book of Records,” said Shalini Kothari, an organiser of Selamat Datang Modiji, speaking to ANI.

The organisers have requested the Malaysia Book of Records authorities to present the official certificate on-site immediately after the performance.

Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Malaysia from February 7 to 8, during which he will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. This will be PM Modi’s third visit to Malaysia and his first since the two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in August 2024, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

India is also exploring opportunities for collaboration in the defence sector during the visit, including the sale of Dornier aircraft and cooperation in the maintenance of Scorpene submarines and SU-30 aircraft, the MEA said.

During the visit, PM Modi will interact with members of the Indian diaspora and business representatives.

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Malaysia is home to a 2.9 million-strong Indian diaspora—the third-largest globally—and the second-largest PIO community at 2.75 million. Malaysia remains a key partner for India in ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific, and a central pillar of India’s Act East Policy.