Remona enters Golden Book of World Records for longest Bharatanatyam performance

Mangaluru: The 170-hour Bharatanatyam dance marathon by Remona Evette Pereira ended with a thunderous applause at LCRI Auditorium in St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) on Monday.

Remona had begun her Bharatanatyam marathon on July 21 at 10 am and continued dancing until July 28 at 12 noon. Beginning with an invocation to Lord Ganesha, Remona concluded her record marathon with a performance to a devotional song on Goddess Durga. Thus defying all odds Remona had etched her name in the Golden Book of World Records.

Later at a programme Remona was conferred with the 'Certificate of Excellence' for the longest Bharatanatyam performance, by the Head of Golden Book of World Records Manish Vishnoei. The previous world record of 127 hours of Bharatanatyam performance was set by Sudhir Jagtap.

When she was invited onto the stage to receive her certificate, her Bharatanatyam classmates welcomed her into the auditorium with a Bharatanatyam procession. On stage, her peers also portrayed the journey of her achievement through a dance. “She danced for 170 hours taking a 15-minute break every three hours,” informed a member of the team

Manish said that Remona’s dedication towards this world record-setting marathon was for everyone to see. “Bharatanatyam is a dance form that’s difficult, yet Remona took up the challenge and danced for 10,200 minutes with curtailed breaks and rest, which is almost impossible to achieve by many," Manish said.

He recollected advising her to embark on the challenge for five days to set the record. "But she insisted on dancing for seven days, which shows her commitment and resilience,” he emphasised. Remona’s mother Gladis Celine said;"I stood by her side at every step of her Bharatanatyam journey through every crest and thought that life posed to them."

“My heart swells with pride to see my daughter’s dream come true. Her efforts have paid off and I couldn’t have wished for anything better for her," stressed Gladis while expressing her gratitude to all those who had supported Remona studying in BA final year, St Aloysius Deemed to be University.

“Our student Remona’s dedication towards Bharatanatyam makes her the golden girl of Mangaluru, nation and the world,” St Aloysius Deemed to be University Vice Chancellor Fr Praveen Martis declared. Remona proved to the world that anything can be accomplished with resilience and passion, he said.

Lauding the achievement MLC Ivan D’Souza said; “She’s an inspiration to every one of us. St Aloysius Deemed to be University must be commended for providing Remona with the platform and encouraging her in pursuing this record-setting marathon.”

Remona is recipient of Pradhan Mantri Bal Puraskar

Remona, also a Pradhan Mantri Bal Puraskar recipient, said the 170-hour dance marathon was not a mere performance, but her tribute to the indelible tradition and cultural significance of Indian classical dance. Remona’s dance teacher Vidya Muralidhar had guided her in her pursuit of Bharatanatyam, she revealed with gratitude.