27,000 birthday candles are lit to set a new Guinness record in New York August 27, 2005. The number more than doubled the previous record of 12,432 candles on a cake set by the St Ignatius Cub Scouts in Ohio in 1993. Taking one and a half minutes, 47 people rapidly lit the candles on the 49 feet (14 meters) by 3 feet (91 cm) cake. The feat was in honor of spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy's 74th birthday and organized by American Ashrita Furman, who holds the record for the most number of Guinness records at 97 and hopes to complete 100 by the end of September. Furman says he is inspired by Sri Chinmoy. Some of Furman's Guinness World Records include pogo stick jumping for distance and playing the most games of hopscotch. REUTERS/World Harmony Run YH