‘Sangamam 2026’ Bharatanatyam Festival Sets New Guinness World Record in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, June 14: The ‘Sangamam 2026’ Bharatanatyam festival held at Galle Face Green on Saturday set a new Guinness World Record, organisers confirmed, marking a major milestone in cultural performance.

A total of 4,988 Bharatanatyam dancers participated in the large-scale event, surpassing the previous record of 416 performers, according to officials.

The programme was organised under the guidance and concept of Deputy Minister of Plantation Infrastructure and Community Development Sundaralingam Pradeep, with coordination between India’s Sangamam Global Academy and Sri Lanka’s Sangamizh Liya Holidays. Dancers from both Sri Lanka and India took part in the historic performance.

Organisers said the initiative stemmed from a request made by the Deputy Minister during the ‘Aayalagha Tamilar Maanadu’ (Convention of Overseas Tamils) held in India, which later facilitated cross-border collaboration for the event.

The record attempt was officially verified by Guinness World Records adjudicator Rishi Nath, who travelled from the United Kingdom to oversee the performance and confirm compliance with record standards.

Following the verification process, the adjudicator confirmed that the mass performance had successfully set a new world record, bringing international recognition to Sri Lanka’s cultural and artistic achievement.