All fired up to break the world record: Thousands of students release lanterns into night sky

10,000 volunteers released more than 15,000 paper lanterns in meditative event to raise awareness for world peace




Thousands of lanterns filled the sky in a spectacular new World record. In what could look like a sky-full of fireflies from a distance, thousands of lanterns were released and floated into the sky to create a vision of suspended lights.

More than 15,000 sky lanterns are believed to have been by 10,000 volunteers at the University of the Philippines Visayas- Miagao Campus, setting a new world record.

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Sign of peace: The lanterns floated into the sky as 10,000 volunteers meditate to celebrate World Peace World Record: 15,185 paper lanterns were lit and safely released into the night air, breaking the previous record number of 12,740

Clear message: 10,000 volunteers gathered to celebrate the slogan of peace, calling for an end to international conflicts

The event aims to promote world peace while breaking a world record. It is the first international event of its kind to be held in the country. It's slogan 'World peace through inner peace' was written on each lantern, in an effort to create awareness around internatio nal conflicts.

The breathtaking event topped Romania's record of releasing 12,470 sky lanterns in 2012 during the opening of a shopping centre.



Uplifted: The volunteers look on in awe as they prepare to add their lantern to the thousands above. The spectacular images convey the meditative spirit of the event

Calming sight: Sky lanterns, also known as Chinese lanterns, are small hot air balloons made of paper, with an opening at the bottom where a small fire is suspended

Message for all: Volunteers were taught the basics of meditation in preparation for the event, so that they could enter celebrate its spiritual ethos. They were briefed on how to release the sky lanterns properly to ensure safety

Dr. Emiliano Bernardo III, who organised the event, said that if universal inner peace can be achieved then there would be no major conflicts since most conflicts can be traced from a lack of inner peace of the individual.

He said that a series of Inner Peace Previews were conducted to orient the volunteers the basics of meditation and how to release the sky lanterns properly to ensure safety.

Community spirit: The students hold a Guinness World record plaque in the air, celebrating their World Record