Pune Sets Guinness World Record! 38,233 Diyas Illuminate Shaniwar Wada to Form ‘Vande Mataram’
Pune, 8th November 2026: Shaniwar Wada was illuminated by thousands of traditional oil lamps on Saturday as Pune witnessed a record-breaking Diwali celebration commemorating 150 years of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’. In a remarkable display of patriotism and youth participation, 38,233 diyas were lit within just 30 minutes to create the words ‘Vande Mataram’, earning a place in the Guinness World Records.
The announcement of the record triggered celebrations at the historic monument, with participants cheering and raising slogans of ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.
The special Deepotsav was organised by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on the occasion of Diwali and the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. The initiative was conceptualised by Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, with an initial target of lighting more than 36,000 diyas simultaneously to create a world record. The final count reached 38,233.
Around 250 young volunteers took the initiative to light the lamps simultaneously, with Gen Z participants playing a major role in the event.
The courtyard in front of Shaniwar Wada was decorated with an elaborate arrangement of diyas. As the volunteers began lighting them at the scheduled time, thousands of lamps gradually illuminated the historic premises, creating a festive atmosphere.
Patriotic songs and stirring performances by a military band added to the celebrations. A Guinness World Records team inspected the arrangement and the lamp-lighting activity before officially confirming the record.
The announcement was greeted with loud applause, patriotic slogans and celebrations by the participants and visitors.
Martyrs’ Mothers and Wives Honoured
As part of the programme, the mothers and wives of martyred soldiers were felicitated in recognition of their sacrifice and contribution to the nation.
Minister of State for Urban Development Madhuri Misal, MLA Hemant Rasane, Deputy Mayor Parashuram Wadekar, Standing Committee Chairman Shrinath Bhimale, Additional Municipal Commissioners Omprakash Diwate and Prajit Nair, Pune Cantonment Board President Brigadier Tarunesh, Colonel Vikas Sawalge, Colonel Shrinivas Katwalekar, Kaushik Kothiya, Krishnakumar Goyal, Rajesh Mittal and Colonel Rajesh Kumar Jindal were among those present.
Mayor Manjusha Nagpure said the PMC had resolved to create a world record through the Deepotsav to mark 150 years of Vande Mataram.
She credited the participation of Gen Z volunteers for making the initiative successful and said Pune Municipal Corporation was the only local self-government body in the country to achieve a world record through such an initiative.
