Pics: Nithin Periera/Thejaswi U Poojary
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi
Udupi, Aug 30: Vidushi Deeksha V, a talented Bharatanatyam dancer from Udupi, has set a new world record by performing continuously for an astounding 216 hours, surpassing the previous record of 170 hours. The record-breaking performance, which began on August 21 at 3:30 pm, concluded on August 30, after an intense nine-day marathon of uninterrupted dance.
Deeksha, a native of Mundinjiddu in Brahmavar taluk, had long aspired to reach great heights in Bharatanatyam, and this ambitious goal led her to attempt the gruelling feat of dancing for over nine days. She successfully completed 170 hours of performance on August 28, breaking the earlier record set by Remona Evette Pereira of Mangaluru, who had danced for 170 hours and entered the Golden Book of World Records.
The entire record attempt was supported by Ratna Sanjeeva Kalamandala, Manipal, under the leadership of Mahesh Thakur and with the guidance of former Udupi MLA K Raghupathi Bhat. The collaborative efforts of these individuals and organisations played a crucial role in making this historic achievement possible.
On August 30, Deeksha was felicitated for her outstanding achievement by deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar. Speaking at the event, Shivakumar expressed his joy and pride, stating, “I am very happy to be in Udupi today. It has been my long-held dream to visit the temple here, and today, I have the privilege of being part of this special occasion. My dear friend K Raghupathi Bhat invited me to join the felicitation, and I am honoured to be here.”
Shivakumar further added, “Deeksha has achieved something truly remarkable at such a young age. Her determination and discipline in performing for over 200 hours is a huge accomplishment, and I am proud to celebrate her success. Culture is the richest heritage of our country, and today, Deeksha has made a tremendous contribution to it. I extend my congratulations to her, her guru, her parents, and everyone who has supported her in this journey.”
Deeksha’s performance is not just a testament to her passion for Bharatanatyam but also an inspiration to countless others who dream of reaching the highest levels of excellence. Her success, at such a young age, serves as a powerful example of what can be achieved through dedication, hard work, and perseverance.
This record-breaking feat has drawn attention from across the state and beyond, highlighting Deeksha's immense contribution to the preservation and promotion of Bharatanatyam, a classical dance form that has long been a cornerstone of Indian culture.
Vidhushi Deeksha felicitated
Vidushi Deeksha was felicitated at a grand ceremony held at Mahatma Gandhi District Stadium, Ajjarkad, Udupi, on August 30.
Deputy chief minister of Karnataka D K Shivakumar honoured Deeksha on the occasion.
Speaking after felicitating Deeksha, Shivakumar said, “I had been wishing to visit Udupi, and today I came here after hearing from my friend Raghupati Bhat about Deeksha’s remarkable attempt. I joined the event to bless her with my wishes. I too once practiced Bharatnatyam before entering politics, so I understand the dedication it requires. Where there is devotion, there is God, and where there is hard work, there is success. In this land of culture, Deeksha has brought pride to Udupi. On behalf of the government, I congratulate her—she has made us all proud.”
Inaugurating the felicitation ceremony, Nadoja Dr G Shankar expressed his admiration for Deeksha’s effort and said, “Watching her performance made me emotional, seeing the immense effort she put in. Rahul stood by her at every step and gave her great support. We were always confident about her success. Many kept observing her, and she truly performed continuously for nine days. She has brought pride to Udupi.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Vidushi Deeksha said, “This achievement would have been impossible without God’s blessings. With the media covering me throughout the day, I could not sit or rest, and it left me exhausted. But after three days, I adapted to it.”
Former MLA K Raghupati Bhat said, “She has accomplished a remarkable achievement, and this is a proud moment for Udupi. She had the blessings of God with her. Deeksha mentioned that her intention was not merely to break a record, but to achieve something greater. When she first approached me, I was doubtful, but we encouraged her to focus on creating a record while assuring that the rest would be taken care of. Though her performance gained wide attention on social media, which had both positive and negative sides, today she has been felicitated by the Deputy Chief Minister with the blessings of Lord Krishna. Yashwanth guided her throughout, and her husband, Preethi Shetty, Vikram, Geethanjali Suvarna, and many others supported her around the clock. This achievement was not hers alone—she succeeded because of the constant support of her husband and parents.”
Vidwan Yashwanth MG, delivering the introductory note, said, “Just three days after I achieved the Golden Book of World Records, I was invited as a guest to an event where I first met Deeksha. Five days later, she reached out to me directly, expressing her wish to set a record. We then discussed the rules and regulations. When the question of financial burden came up, her husband initially suggested postponing it, but Deeksha convinced him to go ahead. They approached Raghupati Bhat, who directed them to Mahesh Takur for support. Throughout her journey, there were negative comments on social media, but Raghupati Bhat stood firmly by her side, while Mahesh Takur supported her from the very beginning. Dancing continuously caused her legs to bleed, yet the radiance on Deeksha’s face remained unchanged from start to finish. The record she has set is historic—she is the first dancer in the world to achieve this, and it has even been recognized on Google. Manish too is delighted to see Udupi’s glory shine through her achievement.”
Manish Bishnoy, Asia head of the Golden Book of World Records, honoured Deeksha with the provisional certificate and said, “This is not just about dance. Vidushi Deeksha, coming from a small village and an ordinary family, dreamed big and succeeded in her goal. Whenever a record is attempted, we first issue a provisional certificate, and after verifying the performance through slow-motion video and final screening, we provide the official certificate. Deeksha danced continuously for 12,960 minutes. Even when we suggested she reduce her target, she firmly refused—this determination is what we call true perseverance. Bharatnatyam is the dance of Nataraj, and the longest performance of Bharatnatyam in the world has now been attempted by Vidushi Deeksha from Udupi. Once the technical verification is complete, the official certificate will be awarded.”
On the occasion, Dr G Shankar Trust and Rathnakar Sanjeeva Kalamandali also felicitated her. Following the formal programme, the record holder once again enthralled the audience with a Bharatnatyam performance.
Mahesh Takur welcomed the gathering, while Avinash Kamath compered the event.
MP Kota Srinivas Poojary, MLA Yashpal Suvarna, MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty, former ministers K Jayaprakash Hegde and Vinay Kumar Sorake, Padmaraj, Shankar Poojary, Shridhar Bannaje, principal of Dr G Shankar Government Women’s College Prof Shojan K G, Rahul, assistant director of the youth sports department Roshan Shetty, Usha Hebbar, Geethanjali Suvarna, Kalakshetra Kundapura Trust’s Kishore Kumar, Deeksha’s family members, and many others were present on the occasion.
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