School children and Patak's smash record with the world's largest Rangoli pattern

Children begin the world record attempt	The completed Rangoli pattern

On Monday 16 October 2006, school children from around the UK headed to London to take part in a world record attempt to create the largest ever Rangoli pattern.

Rangoli patterns are colourful designs created in celebration of Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, which this year took place on 21 October.

Patak's giant Rangoli pattern was made from colourful foods including yellow split peas, green and red lentils, maize, kidney beans and pink delphinium petals, and measured 896.5 square metres when complete.

An application has now been submitted to the adjudicators at Guinness World Records, who will decide whether the Rangoli pattern can be registered as an official record. The previous record measured 865.85 square metres and was set in India on 30th April 2005.

The children won their chance to take part in the world record attempt by designing their own Rangoli patterns.

Nikita Heel of Pear Tree Infant School in Derby won the overall competition.

Winning Rangoli pattern designed by Nikita Heel of Pear Tree Infant School, Derby

Patak's would like to thank all the schools that took part in the world record attempt and made the day a huge success:

• Britannia Village Primary School, London, E16
• Calverton Primary School, London, E16
• Coedffranc Infant School, Skewen, Swansea
• New Elizabethan School, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
• Pear Tree Infant School, Derby, Derbyshire
• St Columba's Roman Catholic Primary School, Bolton, Lancashire
• St James Roman Catholic Primary School, Twickenham, Middlesex
• St Martin at Shouldham School, King's Lynn, Norfolk
• St Thomas Church of England Primary School, Leigh, Lancashire
• Springfield Primary School, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex
• Trellech Primary School, Trellech, Monmouthshire

More pictures from the record attempt

Three tonnes of maize were used in the pattern	A splash of green lentils
Filling in one of the diamonds with red lentils	Putting the finishing touches to the pattern

Essential Information

If you have any questions about the competition, or the record attempt please contact us:

• Michael Blount at michael.blount@nexuspr.com or on 020 7808 9744
• Susie Wilkinson at susie.wilkinson@nexuspr.com or on 020 7808 9747

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