Lantern puts them in world eye

PUNE, Feb 2: Pravin Nayak's lantern has sure managed to light up his life. His team's 38 feet high and 22 feet wide creation has been off...

PUNE, Feb 2: Pravin Nayak8217;s lantern has sure managed to light up his life. His team8217;s 38 feet high and 22 feet wide creation has been officially recognised by the Guiness Book of World Records.

In October Nayak and eight others put together a gigantic lantern made out of 2000 sheets of thermacole and 25 kilograms of nails that was further lit up with 10 bulbs of 250 watts each. The huge and colourful lantern was then put on display at the Ganesh Kala Krida Manch around Diwali last year for a month. Simultaneously, Nayak dispatched all the information and photographs regarding the lantern to the Guiness Book of World Records for an entry into the prestigious record book.

On February 1 he was thus pleasantly rewarded for his and his team8217;s efforts when a letter and a certificate arrived at his doorstep from London, United Kingdom informing him that 8220;the largest lantern has officially been recognised by the Guiness Book of World Records.8221; According to the letter, the editors will now further consider this record for an entry into the world8217;s biggest selling copyright book.

Nayak, who works in Bajaj Auto as a machinist, had earlier created a lantern 15 feet high and 10.5 feet wide that had gained entry into the Limca Book of Records. 8220;In February last year too I had written to the Guiness Book of Records but they wrote back informing me that they had closed this category but would consider its reinstatement. This time round they probably decided to reinstate the category and I am deeply obliged to them for it,8221; gushes Nayak. According to Nayak, the entire project that was put together in 15 days cost around Rs three lakh, with Oberoi Towers, Mumbaifunding a major part of the expense.

The other members of the team of nine that put together the mammoth lantern include Ashok Gajamal, Nitin Dhanve, Sushil Manjre, Shreeram Bhalerao, Rahul Raut, Sachin Shinde, Mahadeo Kadam and Nitin Kumbhare. Their next venture is to institute their own website on the net and to put together similar lanterns in the United States and United Kingdom. 8220;We feel we will receive more financial support abroad. In Pune it8217;s been very difficult to get people to fund the project8221;.

Also on the agenda are plans to put up such colossal lanterns at the venues of the day and night cricket matches with the World Cup being the ultimate aim.

Wonder if the lanterns could, amongst other things, also brighten India8217;s chances at the World Cup?

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More