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.
'You two have been friends for many hundreds of years'
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
A New World
Apaga Renner Graz, Austria
Spirituality means speed
Patanga Cordeiro São Paulo, Brazil
Learning to love songs ever more
Patanga Cordeiro São Paulo, Brazil
My 5 a.m. strategic meditations
Sanchita Fleming Ottawa, Canada
The day I recieved my spiritual name
Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto Rico
A demonstration of the Master’s occult powers
Arpan De Angelo New York, United States
Akuti: a pioneer-jewel in our Centre
Akuti Eisamann Connecticut, United States
Failures are the pillars of success
Anugata Bach New York, United States
My Life with Sri Chinmoy: a book
Tejvan Pettinger Oxford, United Kingdom
Why run 3100 miles?
Smarana Puntigam Vienna, Austria
The happiest I've ever been
Gabriele Settimi San Diego, United States
The Swimming Relay
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New ZealandSuggested videos
interviews with Sri Chinmoy's students
Why we organise ultra-distance events
Subarnamala Riedel Zurich, Switzerland
Humorous moments with Sri Chinmoy
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand
No prior experience needed
Samalya Schafer Berlin, Germany
From religion to spirituality
Muslim Badami Auckland, New Zealand
What drew me to Sri Chinmoy's path
Nikolaus Drekonja San Diego, United States
What brought me to the spiritual life
Paula Correia Porto, Portugal
Sri Chinmoy's inner guidance
Kailash Beyer Zurich, Switzerland
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