Every day amazing records are set and broken all over the world. Here, Guinness World Records takes a look at ten of the most awe-inspiring feats that have been accomplished in one particular country over the past three months – India.
1. Dinesh Upadhyaya
Dinesh Upadhyaya from India is a multiple record breaker who earned himself a place in the Guinness World Records 2016 book after attaining a number of impressive and whacky record titles.
In celebration of this year’s Guinness World Records Day on 12 November, Dinesh decided to attempt some more challenges and break his own records.
Dinesh previously held the record for the Most lit candles in the mouth with 12, but on GWR Day 2015 he raised the total to a daring 15.
He significantly raised his record for the Most grapes stuffed in the mouth from 79 to a whopping 88 – though he has told GWR that stuffing records are his speciality.
The Most matchsticks extinguished with the tongue in one minute 30, achieved by Dinesh in Mumbai, India (as all these records were).
The popular record for most people dressed as Gandhi was broken by Venkat, St Ann's & Venus group of institutions (India), in Bangalore, India, on 2 October 2015.
The event was held on this day to mark the 146th birth anniversary of Mohandas Gandhi and saw 4,605 young kids dressed up in Gandhi's traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, and sporting false moustaches, bald caps, glasses and bamboo sticks.
In recent years this has been a popular record in India and the number of participants dressed as “Mahatama” ("Great Soul") just keeps growing.
3. Most backwards body skips in one minute
The most backward body skips in one minute is 46 and was achieved by Sakthi Balasubramani (India) in Coimbatore, India, on 18 October 2015.
A backwards body skip is a full 360-degree revolution of the arms. The arms are passed over the head, behind the back and under the feet whilst remaining connected.
Extremely flexible Sakthi Balasubramani discovered his talent at a school sports day but only recently thought of its potential to earn him a Guinness World Records title.
4. Largest television remote control
Suraj Kumar Meher and Rajesh Kumar Meher (both India) built the largest television remote control. It was 4.5 m (14 ft 9.1 in) long as measured in Sambalpur, India, on 21 September 2015.
Amazingly, the remote control is fully functioning, and was demonstrated to work on a normal-sized television.
5. Largest facial yoga class
The largest facial yoga class involved 1,661 participants and was organised by Being Women (India), in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, on 11 October 2015.
The record attempt took place at People's Plaza where over 3,000 people were present, including participants. The participants ranged from the age 8 to 93.
Founder and President of Being Woman (and Mrs South Asia International 2014) Ruchika Sharma began practicing facial yoga after her face was damaged in a road accident, regarding it as a much safer alternative to cosmetic surgery. She was delighted with the results and chose to attempt this record in order to raise awareness about the beauty therapy in the hope that it will empower other women.
6. Largest electronic keyboard ensemble
The largest electronic keyboard ensemble consists of 400 participants and was achieved by Sri Veenavani Music School (India) in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, on 6 September 2015.
All participants played their own keyboard and performed a variety of songs including the Indian national anthem.
7. Largest laddu (individual)
The largest individual laddu – a traditional round Indian sweet – weighs a hefty 8,369 kg (18,450 lb 7.78 oz) and was made by Sri Bhaktanjaneya Sweets (India), owned by S. Venkateswara Rao (India), in Tapeswaram, Andhra Pradesh, India, on 15 September 2015.
The laddu was made of 2,300 kg (5,700 lb 10 oz) gram flour, 2700 kg (5,792 lb 7 oz) sugar, 2000 kg (4409 lb 3 oz) ghee, 700 kg (1,543 lb 3 oz) candy rock chips, 800 kg (1,763 lb 11 oz) mixed nuts and 70 kg (154 lb 5 oz) cardamom.
The largest poster is 5,969.61 m² (64,256.34 ft²) and was achieved by Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan (India) as measured at the Shah Satnam Ji Cricket Stadium, Sirsa, India, on 9 September 2015.
The poster was made in promotion for the feature film MSG-2 The Messenger. The film had the most expensive production in the history of Indian cinema and so it seemed only appropriate that it should have an equally impressive advertisement.
9. Largest vocabulary lesson
The largest vocabulary lesson consists of 1,310 participants, and was organised by Dhaval Bathia (India) in Maharashtra, India, on 15 September 2015.
Students came from a number of different schools for this attempt to learn how to widen their English vocabulary.
10.Most plastic bottles recycled (eight hours)
The most plastic bottles recycled in eight hours weigh a total of 23,538.90 kg (51,894 lb) and was achieved by Bisleri International Pvt Ltd. (India) in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, on 4 October 2015.
Although all the bottles were not all collected in eight hours, they were all brought to a central location to be weighed and recycled within eight hours.
This attempt was organised as part of a campaign to encourage students in the local community to recycle in order to protect the environment and conserve materials.
