A Guinness World Record was collectively set in August of last year in New York in the category for “A Poem / Literary Passage Recited in the Most Languages“.

“Be Like a Child” Poem by Sri Chinmoy, World Harmony Run founder, was recited in 146 Languages, From Bengali and Maori to Newari and Zulu, as part of the Sri Chinmoy Poetry Festival (August 25-27) 2010.

Olympic legend Carl Lewis, Guinness top record holder Ashrita Furman,

UN Ambassadors and Consulate General Representatives

as well as a large international team,

Set a new Guinness World Record by reading a poem from

The “Jewels of Happiness” written by Sri Chinmoy in the most languages ever—146!

Harmony Run Torch introduced

The Executive Director of the World Harmony run, Salil Wilson of Australia, was requested to present the Harmony Torch and address the gathering. He noted that this year the Harmony Run is supporting the UN and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures proclaimed for 2010. This is the final year of the Decade for a Culture of Peace declared by the UN General Assembly and is dedicated to Cultural Diversity and to bringing people together.

The President of the UNESCO General Conference, Davidson Hepburn, has sent a message to the Harmony Run in which he stresses the value in bringing different types of people together and how "the communal sharing of our hopes and dreams is fundamental for building the foundations of peace and harmony." We see on the sign, the IYRC logo and year in 6 languages. Having a poem read in so many languages is a perfect way to bring people together and to share the unique sounds and other ways that we communicate. The poem chosen is quite simple, like the concept of passing the torch, but it too speaks powerfully to a common experience in our hearts that unites us.

The Harmony Run has gone to over 140 countries since it was founded by Sri Chinmoy 20 years ago. In a sense this torch represents all the places around the world where hands and hearts have held it to share a common dream for peace and harmony. It also represents the various languages heard in the diverse communities which share their cultural gifts like todays poem "Be like a child".

Salil presented the torch to Carl Lewis, Ashrita and others to share and thanked them for including the Harmony Run in this oneness encouraging and experiencing event.

International Mother Language Day was celebrated in February. Now this multilingual poetry event 6 months later, reading Sri Chinmoy's poem in so many languages, seems like a fitting and practical example of the ways the wonderful spirit behind IML Day can be carried forward, appreciated and experienced on more occasions throughout the year.