30 December
Record breaking adventures...with popcorn!
Colm Magee and Ambarish Keenan were amongst a team drawn from over 20 countries around the world aiming to break the 20-foot record mark for the tallest popcorn structure by a whole seven meters. The aim: to create a 27-foot high cake by August 27, in time to present to renowned spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy on the occasion of his 75th birthday, made only out of popcorn bound together with dissolved sugar and palmoil.
The 55-strong team spent more almost two weeks constructing the 5440kg structure, dealing with problems ranging from trying to source enough popcorn, to very un-New York rain showers which made working conditions very difficult indeed during the final stages of construction. The cake itself was five layers high, and was topped with a popcorn statue by noted sculptor, Kaivalya Torpy.
The cake was built during a gathering of 1,500 of Sri Chinmoy's students in New York, one of the thrice-yearly opportunities for students to visit their teacher in his home town. Around this time, there are meditation functions twice a day, but also musical performances, inspiring plays, in fact there's something going on to suit every musical, artistic or athletic temperament.
This is not the first time members of the Dublin Sri Chinmoy Centre have helped Ashrita in his record-breaking quest:
- In August 2005, Ambarish and Colm were joined by Colm's brother, Shane , as they helped to light the most candles on a birthday cake (27,000).
- In August 2004 Shane helped to construct the largest bouquet of flowers ever created (101,000 roses).
Related links
- Ashrita's website - including a recent blog where he describes his latest feats!
- blog entry about the cake by Shardul Dillicar from New Zealand
- Picture gallery by Jowan Gauthier
Stories
First-hand experiences of meditation and spirituality.
If I can smile like that, it's worth becoming a disciple
Mahatapa Palit New York, United States
My Life with Sri Chinmoy: a book
Tejvan Pettinger Oxford, United Kingdom
How sports and fitness became part of our spiritual life
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto Rico
No Fear, Only the Heart’s Concern
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
My 5 a.m. strategic meditations
Sanchita Fleming Ottawa, Canada
'You have to be like a warrior and fight'
Mahiyan Savage San Diego, United States
The most beautiful and fulfilling of all possible experiences
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Running for Peace
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
My life with Sri Chinmoy
Namrata Moses New York, United States
Listen to the inner voice
Vidura Groulx Montreal, Canada
The day when everything began
Bhagavantee Paul Salzburg, Austria
My wife's soul comes to visit
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Sri Chinmoy's biography, written by one of the most famous Bengali authors
Mahatapa Palit New York, United StatesSuggested videos
interviews with Sri Chinmoy's students
How can we create harmony in the world?
Baridhi Yonchev Sofia, Bulgaria
Spirituality - the most fascinating subject on earth
Laila Faerman New York, United States
2 things that surprised me about the spiritual life
Jayasalini Abramovskikh Moscow, Russia
The greatest adventure that you can embark on
Mahatapa Palit New York, United States
Starting a spiritual café
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand
When I met Sri Chinmoy for the first time
Baridhi Yonchev Sofia, Bulgaria
From religion to spirituality
Muslim Badami Auckland, New Zealand
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