3,473 Drones Bring a Giant Dancing Peacock to Life in Mysuru, Setting Guinness World Record

The night sky over Mysuru witnessed a spectacular sight on October 18 as 3,473 drones came together to create a giant dancing peacock. The breathtaking formation at the Torchlight Parade Ground in Bannimantap earned a place in the Guinness World Records for the largest aerial formation of a bird made by multirotors or drones.Organised by Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) and executed by BotLab Dynamics, the show became one of the biggest highlights of Mysuru Dasara 2026. With India’s national bird taking centre stage, the display brought technology, art and national pride together in a memorable spectacle.Crowds Gather for the Sky ShowThe drone shows recorded a reported 154% increase in footfall compared with 2025, underlining their growing popularity. During the first two evenings, attendance at the venue exceeded 40,000, surpassing its formal seated capacity of 33,500. More than 20,000 additional people gathered outside to catch a glimpse of the show.Across the city, rooftops, balconies and restaurant terraces turned into viewing spots as residents and visitors looked up at the illuminated sky. According to Neha Verma, Marketing and Communications Lead at BotLab Dynamics, drone shows can be visible from more than 10 kilometres away under suitable viewing conditions.For many families, the event has become an annual Dasara tradition. Residents now look forward to the drone spectacle alongside Mysuru’s famous palace illuminations and other festive attractions.Five Years of Bigger and Bolder ShowsBotLab Dynamics has been presenting the Mysuru Dasara drone shows since 2022. According to reports, the displays began with 250 drones in 2022 and 2023, expanded to 1,500 drones in 2024, and featured a 3,000-drone fleet in 2025. That year, 2,983 drones formed a tiger, setting a Guinness World Record.This year’s 3,473-drone peacock took the spectacle to a new level. The 2026 show also featured a spiralling galaxy, a soldier raising the national flag, a butterfly, a roaring lion, Karnataka’s map, religious figures and symbols, the Ambari elephant and Goddess Chamundeshwari.A Festival That Lights Up the SkyCESC illuminated a 146-kilometre road network across Mysuru this year, adding to the city’s festive atmosphere. The drone show has become another major attraction during the celebrations. BotLab Dynamics founder and managing director Dr Sarita Ahlawat expressed pride in creating the record with Indian-made drones for the people of Karnataka.The celebrations are not over yet. The Mysuru Dasara Drone Shows are scheduled to continue on October 20 and 21 at 7 pm at the Torchlight Parade Ground in Bannimantap.