‘Halleluiah’: Mason in Manipur attempts world record

Daily wage earner sings a one-word song for two-and-a-half hours straight

Our Correspondent
Imphal, June 15 (EMN): A mason in Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Saturday made an unusual attempt to set a world record by singing a ‘one-word song’ for two-and-a-half hours straight.

Thirty-six-year-old Lalzomlien Gangte, a resident of Tuinom in Churachandpur, sang a one-word song titled ‘Halleluiah’ for two hours, 37 seven minutes and 27 seconds at the Kuki Inpi conference hall in the hill town, about 65 km south of Imphal.

Gangte started singing at a tender age and continues to do so even after marriage. He is unwilling to quit the church choir of which he has been a member since his teenage years, despite having to work as a daily wage earner during the day.

On his attempt at world record, Gangte said: “I wanted to set a unique footprint in the field of music.” About the choice of the song’s title, he said: “To me, it is a song of joy.”

Sharing similar sentiment, and also informing that it was Gangte’s first such attempt, Gin Gangte, the man behind organising the day’s world record attempt, told Eastern Mirror that the motive behind the initiative was to promote creativity among the youngsters who are often engaged with the mobile phones and other unproductive activities.

“So I urge the youngsters to come out with creative ideas and make a mark,” Gin, an official of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said. ‘Halleluiah’, he said, is an English interjection of Hebrew origin signifying an expression of great happiness and to praise the Almighty.

Informing that he had obtained an authorisation letter to conduct the event from Global Records and Research Foundation, he said: “All documents including the video recording and other relevant materials collected today will be sent to the Guinness World Records, Limca Book of World Records, Asia Book of Records, and the Indian Book of Records so that they can take a final decision.”

The singer’s wife, Hoineu and their three children—two girls and a boy who are all dependent on the father—watched and cheered him on his attempt to set a record.