BY A STAFF REPORTER
CARSON, CA - “Shree Ramkabir Temple,has established a new World Record for the longest marathon singing by multiple singers! 173 hours and 45 minutes,breaking the previous record of 110 hours!” So declared Michael Empric, Guinness World Records Adjudicator, representing the Guinness Book of World Records,
CARSON, CA - “Shree Ramkabir Temple,has established a new World Record for the longest marathon singing by multiple singers! 173 hours and 45 minutes,breaking the previous record of 110 hours!” So declared Michael Empric, Guinness World Records Adjudicator, representing the Guinness Book of World Records,
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on July 19,with several hundred devotees filling the temple to the brim, eagerly and anxiously awaiting and anticipating the official Guinness declaration. Preceding the official adjudication announcement,Mukundbhai L. Bhakta, President of Shree Ramkabir Mandir, explained that the inspiration for the event came from Satguru’s Kabir’s two sakhis (poems) which emphasized the importance of devotion to God through prayers in daily life and the need to live lives with full recognition and acceptance that God resides in the hearts of all. So the deeper spirit driving the devotional marathon was that God is worshipped in many names and forms, but God is One, residing in all, and that spiritual paths are many, but the goal of all is One, manifesting God’s qualities in each of us. Specifically, the main purpose of this marathon bhajan program was to pray for the well-being of all living beings everywhere, to generate and spread intense sacred vibrations of Divine Love to all corners of Mother Earth and thereby promote love, peace and amity on earth, and also to inspire everyone to make a practical difference in the lives of millions of people the world over, especially innocent babies, young children, and the elderly, devastated by wars and natural calamities, suffering from hunger, poverty, disease, and lack of basic needs, shelter, and educational opportunities. The seven-day Akhanda Bhajans also stressed the importance of prayer as a very important service to humanity and all that lives and breathes and all that exists in the universe. The sacred vibrations created by devotees’ Love for God were intended to touch the hearts of many and the hopes and aspirations of all who are facing tremendous difficulties and unbelievable challenges and hardship in their daily lives. The historic seven-day Akhanda Bhajans began at 8am on Sunday, July 12. 46 different bhajan groups participated, one from as far away as Panama. Others came from Florida, Texas (San Antonio, Dallas, Houston), Arizona (Phoenix), and many different parts of the USA and California (Sacramento, Hayward, San Diego, and all counties in Southern California).Bhajans were sung 24 hours a day for over seven days! Over 200 volunteers helped this mammoth event, including about 86 women who prepared snacks and meals for the over 750 bhajan singers and 5,000 devotees who attended and participated in the event.
“All the volunteers worked so hard and enthusiastically all day every day and overcame the many challenges of organizing such a huge event – we are all so grateful to everyones,” said Gitaben Rohitbhai Bhakta and Madhuben Bharatbhai Bhakta.
“Since November last year,we accepted the challenge of this event, and we are all so happy by the outcomes,”exhulted Kanchanben Dinubhai Bhakta. “The very special atmosphere and feeling created during this occasion is the first time I felt the same uplifting feeling I experienced in 1994 when Shree Ramkabir Mandir was officially inaugurated”, said Vallabhbhai C. Bhakta.
“I’m so happy with the entire event, and all the bhajan groups sang so well! I was especially humbled and touched by the sincerity and humility of the bhajan group from Sacramento,” said Bhagwanjibhai S. Bhakta.
“Seeing so many groups from so many places coming with such good feelings and enthusiasm warms the heart, and nurtures the soul,” said Sanmukhbhai G. Bhakta. “The wonderful feelings with which all the devotees and groups came together made us all feel a kind of Oneness and togetherness as never before; it was spiritually in practice, and a good omen for even better things to come,” said Shaileshbhai R. Bhakta and Rajnibhai D. Bhakta. Participants ranged from the tender age of 4 years to the majestic age of 86! Devotees were treated to a rich tapestry of devotion through different forms of devotional singing, ranging from the gentle soul stirring dhuns of the Grace group, the disciplined instrument free Shrimad Rajchandra Mumuxu Mandal, the well synchronized chalti bhajans from Panama, traditional women and men Bhakta bhajans from Mandir devotees, to the supremely energetic Krishna Bhajan Group from Sacramento which sang continuously for 11 hours on their feet standing and jumping ecstatically! This group actually requested a slot of 24 hours and they certainly could have kept on going on and on had time permitted, so intense was their devotion and ardor. “Everyone witnessing this group was so impressed, especially with a young boy in this group, who sang and danced his heart out, gesturing exquisitely in tune with the bhajans, and jumping occasionally while singing almost as high as the 8 foot ceiling would permit!” said Joshna Patel.
Every bhajan group contributed to the bhajans in their own unique and expressive way, from day one, with palpable enthusiasm, and this positive energy carried right through to the culmination! All the bhajan groups who participated at late hours in the night and in the early hours of the event also deserve a special mention for their dedication and their fortitude. Participants in every group, without exception, commented that once they sat down at the shrine and started singing, they totally lost track of time, so immersed were they in singing the glories of the Lord.
“We thank each and every bhajan group without whom this world record could not have been achieved, and this record belongs to each of them and really to everyone who helped make this event a success,” said Mukundbhai L. Bhakta. “Our donors and official event sponsors, Surati Farsan Mart and Jay Bharat Foods, partnered with us and we are very very grateful to them, too,” he said.
“If breaking the record set today inspires other spiritual organizations to bring people together to sing the glories of God for the welfare and benefit of all, then this event will have served yet another very meaningful purpose,” observed Dilipbhai K. Bhakta.
“All the volunteers worked so hard and enthusiastically all day every day and overcame the many challenges of organizing such a huge event – we are all so grateful to everyones,” said Gitaben Rohitbhai Bhakta and Madhuben Bharatbhai Bhakta.
“Since November last year,we accepted the challenge of this event, and we are all so happy by the outcomes,”exhulted Kanchanben Dinubhai Bhakta. “The very special atmosphere and feeling created during this occasion is the first time I felt the same uplifting feeling I experienced in 1994 when Shree Ramkabir Mandir was officially inaugurated”, said Vallabhbhai C. Bhakta.
“I’m so happy with the entire event, and all the bhajan groups sang so well! I was especially humbled and touched by the sincerity and humility of the bhajan group from Sacramento,” said Bhagwanjibhai S. Bhakta.
“Seeing so many groups from so many places coming with such good feelings and enthusiasm warms the heart, and nurtures the soul,” said Sanmukhbhai G. Bhakta. “The wonderful feelings with which all the devotees and groups came together made us all feel a kind of Oneness and togetherness as never before; it was spiritually in practice, and a good omen for even better things to come,” said Shaileshbhai R. Bhakta and Rajnibhai D. Bhakta. Participants ranged from the tender age of 4 years to the majestic age of 86! Devotees were treated to a rich tapestry of devotion through different forms of devotional singing, ranging from the gentle soul stirring dhuns of the Grace group, the disciplined instrument free Shrimad Rajchandra Mumuxu Mandal, the well synchronized chalti bhajans from Panama, traditional women and men Bhakta bhajans from Mandir devotees, to the supremely energetic Krishna Bhajan Group from Sacramento which sang continuously for 11 hours on their feet standing and jumping ecstatically! This group actually requested a slot of 24 hours and they certainly could have kept on going on and on had time permitted, so intense was their devotion and ardor. “Everyone witnessing this group was so impressed, especially with a young boy in this group, who sang and danced his heart out, gesturing exquisitely in tune with the bhajans, and jumping occasionally while singing almost as high as the 8 foot ceiling would permit!” said Joshna Patel.
Every bhajan group contributed to the bhajans in their own unique and expressive way, from day one, with palpable enthusiasm, and this positive energy carried right through to the culmination! All the bhajan groups who participated at late hours in the night and in the early hours of the event also deserve a special mention for their dedication and their fortitude. Participants in every group, without exception, commented that once they sat down at the shrine and started singing, they totally lost track of time, so immersed were they in singing the glories of the Lord.
“We thank each and every bhajan group without whom this world record could not have been achieved, and this record belongs to each of them and really to everyone who helped make this event a success,” said Mukundbhai L. Bhakta. “Our donors and official event sponsors, Surati Farsan Mart and Jay Bharat Foods, partnered with us and we are very very grateful to them, too,” he said.
“If breaking the record set today inspires other spiritual organizations to bring people together to sing the glories of God for the welfare and benefit of all, then this event will have served yet another very meaningful purpose,” observed Dilipbhai K. Bhakta.
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