COLOMBO – A gathering of 5,000 Bharatanatyam dancers at Colombo’s Galle Face Green on Sunday (14) set a new Guinness World Record, creating a landmark moment for Tamil cultural heritage and performing arts in Sri Lanka.
The record was achieved during ‘Sangamam 2026’, a large-scale cultural event organized by Sangamam Global Academy of India in collaboration with Sangamizh Liya Holidays.
The participants, Bharatanatyam artistes representing both Sri Lanka and India, performed in unison while wearing 10,000 pairs of traditional ankle bells, known as salangai, producing a synchronized rhythmic performance that earned official recognition from Guinness World Records.
The event transformed the iconic seaside venue into a vibrant display of Bharatanatyam, one of the oldest classical dance traditions of South Asia, highlighting both the artistic discipline and cultural significance of the form.
Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Social Infrastructure Facilities, S. Pradeep, who attended as the chief guest, hailed the achievement as a proud moment for Sri Lanka and the Tamil community.
“This achievement has showcased the richness of Tamil artistic heritage on Sri Lankan soil and brought international recognition to our cultural traditions,” he said.
The organizers said the initiative stemmed from discussions held during a Tamil diaspora conference in India, where plans were first proposed to stage a record-breaking Bharatanatyam performance in Sri Lanka.
Thousands of spectators, including art enthusiasts, families, tourists, and members of the public, gathered along the Galle Face promenade to witness the event.
Representatives of Guinness World Records formally presented the world record certificate during the event, confirming the successful achievement and entry of ‘Sangamam 2026’ into the global record books.
Parents, students, and dance instructors who participated in the program expressed appreciation to the organizers and supporting institutions for facilitating the event and called for greater support for cultural and artistic initiatives in the future.
Among those attending were Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ramanalingam Chandrasekar, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, Deputy Minister of Industries Mahinda Jayasinghe, and several other government officials, diplomats, and cultural leaders.
The organizers said the record-setting event was intended not only to celebrate Bharatanatyam but also to promote cultural exchange, artistic excellence, and Sri Lanka’s position as a destination for major international cultural events.
-Text and Pix – ENCL












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