Our Bureau
Patna
Bihar has proudly secured two Guinness World Records for the largest Madhubani painting and the largest singing bowl ensemble by Buddhist monks, marking a historic cultural milestone ahead of the Khelo India Youth Games 2025. The games, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 4, are being hosted in Bihar for the first time, spanning multiple cities including Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Begusarai.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar received the official Guinness World Records certificates on Sunday at the Patliputra Sports Complex. The records were awarded in the presence of Ravindran Shankaran, DG-cum-CEO of the Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA), and adjudicator Rishi from Guinness World Records.
The largest Madhubani painting, measuring an impressive 201.17 square feet, was created by a team of 50 women artists from Mithila Chitrakala Sansthan, led by Padma Shri awardee Baua Devi. The artwork, crafted over 50 continuous hours using natural colors, showcases intricate designs that celebrate Bihar’s rich cultural heritage. This masterpiece will be unveiled during the opening ceremony of the Khelo India Youth Games.
Simultaneously, in Bodh Gaya, 375 Buddhist monks from various monasteries performed together with singing bowls, setting a new world record for the largest singing bowl ensemble. The monks, aged between five and 70, played harmoniously to the Buddha Mantra, surpassing the previous record held by 100 lamas. This event was organized as a tribute to Bihar’s identity as the ‘Land of Enlightenment,’ the birthplace of many religions.
During his visit, CM Nitish Kumar also inspected the central control and command center at Patliputra Stadium, providing guidelines to officials for the smooth conduct of the games. Approximately 10,000 athletes and technical staff will compete across 28 sports disciplines, held at various venues including IAS Bhawan (tennis), JP Ganga Path (cycling), BMP-5 indoor stadium (e-sports, wrestling, judo), Patel Sports Complex Railway (boxing, table tennis), and Patliputra Sports Complex (athletics, rugby, volleyball, basketball, sepaktakraw).
These achievements underscore Bihar’s growing prominence on the national and global stage, blending its cultural legacy with sporting excellence.
