Toronto Diwali show eyes Guinness Book entry

Saibal Chatterjee

Toronto, Sep 18 (PTI) A 30-hour non-stop Diwali
entertainment show here, which includes performances by Ustad
Zakir Hussain and Bollywood trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, is poised
to enter the Guinness Book of World Records as the
longest-running South Asian event in North America.

The show, christened Mahautsav, is being presented by
Harpreet Sethi's Grand Victorian Convention Centre and the
Radisson Plaza Mississauga on October 9 and 10 in Toronto's
Rogers Center.

It will see musical concerts, Bhangra and Dandiya
performances, laser fireworks and a Ram Lila staged by New
Delhi's Indian Revival Group.

Among other singers and musicians who have also
confirmed their participation are Bollywood singer Sunidhi
Chauhan, Anuradha Paudwal, Stereo Nation and Jay Sean.

Asha Luthra, co-chair of the festival, told PTI: "We
have invited representatives of the Guinness Book of World
Records to the event. The Mahautsav will go down as the
longest-running entertainment show of its kind ever organised
in North America."

She said that the Rogers Centre has a capacity of
63,000. The Mahautsav, she added, was expected to draw well
over 100,000 people over the Thanksgiving weekend. (More) PTI