Thousands of people gathered on the grounds of Vels University in Chennai, India last Friday, to celebrate Puthandu – the Hindu New Year – in record-breaking style.

N. Athistabalan spent a year organising a Guinness World Records title attempt at the Largest Bharatha Natyam dance, and his efforts certainly paid off as a record 4,525 participants turned up and achieved a new record on the day.


Dressed in the customary red and white clothing, the huge mass of people fluently performed the traditional dance routine that they had spent months learning.

Official Guinness World Records adjudicator Swapnil Dangarikar attended the spectacular event to count and verify the record, confirming that the participants more than doubled the previous number.

Largest Bharatha Natyam dance certificate presentation
Before this, the largest Bharatha Natyam dance involved 2,100 participants and was achieved by Tapasyasiddhi Kala Academy at Shahu Stadium, Kolhapur, India, on 10 January 2015.

The event’s chief organiser N. Athistabalan is hugely passionate about raising awareness about the ancient dance of Tamilnadu