Kuala Lumpur

Indian culture took centre stage in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday as the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Indian Cultural Centre (NSCBICC) led a record-breaking dance performance to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a community interaction programme held as part of his two-day visit to Malaysia.

The large-scale cultural presentation, organised during the event where Prime Minister Modi addressed members of the Indian diaspora, earned official recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records.

Around 800 dancers, performing under the banner of the Indian Community Cultural Committee, came together for a single five-minute choreographed sequence, presenting an array of Indian classical and folk dance traditions on one stage.

The record attempt—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”—was staged at the MINES International Exhibition & Convention Centre (MIECC) in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and his Malaysian counterpart.

Malaysia Book of Records CEO Christopher Wong praised the effort and coordination behind the achievement. “Getting 800 dancers to perform Indian classical dance together is extremely challenging. It requires immense teamwork and coordination. Credit goes to the musical director and the entire team. We are proud to certify this remarkable accomplishment,” he said.

Prime Minister Modi also congratulated the performers during his address to the diaspora. “We have just witnessed a historic cultural performance. More than 800 dancers moving together in perfect harmony. This will be remembered for years. My congratulations to every performer,” he said.

Later, the Prime Minister shared his appreciation on social media platform X, calling the event “a grand celebration of Indian culture in Malaysia” and describing the record-setting dance as a highlight of the community programme in Kuala Lumpur.

NSCBICC Director Vijayalakshmy Sunderrajan expressed pride in the collective effort behind the performance. “This recognition belongs to every dancer who has been part of this journey. They practised together for nearly two months to make this possible. I am honoured to receive this certificate on their behalf,” she said.

Several participants spoke of their excitement at performing before the Prime Minister. One dancer who presented Kathakali said the opportunity was deeply special. “I performed Kathakali from Kerala just to see Modi ji. Performing in front of him made me extremely happy,” the dancer said. Another performer, Snigdha, who showcased Yakshagana, said the experience was unforgettable. “Being recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records is a matter of great pride. Performing such a rare art form before a large audience was a big moment for us,” she said.

The cultural spectacle was part of ‘Selamat Datang Modiji’, a flagship diaspora event highlighting India’s cultural diversity and soft power in Malaysia. The record-setting performance reflected both the richness of India’s classical and folk traditions and the strong cultural bonds shared by the Indian community in Malaysia.

The organisers described the event as a celebration of people-to-people ties between India and Malaysia, underlining the role of cultural exchanges in strengthening bilateral relations.

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Prime Minister Modi is on a two-day visit to Malaysia aimed at deepening the India–Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with a focus on expanding cooperation across economic, digital, cultural, and people-to-people sectors.