St. Aloysius Student Enters Golden Book of World Records with 170-Hour Dance Marathon

Mangaluru, August 5, 2025: Remona Evette Pereira, a BA student at St. Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, has etched her name in the Golden Book of World Records after completing a marathon 170-hour Bharatanatyam performance — a feat that has captured the admiration of art lovers across the country.

Her performance began on the morning of 21 July 2025 with a prayer to Lord Ganesha and concluded a week later around noon with a ballet and a closing prayer to Goddess Durga. Held at the university auditorium, the event allowed only a 15-minute break every three hours. Despite these challenges, Ms. Pereira displayed unwavering grace through intricate footwork, expressive gestures, and precise postures throughout the performance.

In an interview with Catholic Connect, Remona shared her journey. "To be honest, I don’t know what inspired me to go for 170 hours. My initial plan was just 24 hours, but while applying for the record, I thought — why not 170?" she recalled. "Seven days is 168 hours, but since I’m OCD, I decided on 170."

Remona’s passion for dance began early. "My mum introduced me to my first love — Bharatanatyam — at the age of three. Since then, I’ve been falling deeper in love with the form."

Despite the performance's intensity, Remona revealed she did not undergo physical training. "There was no physical preparation. I just went for it. But mentally, I had three weeks to prepare. The first two were fine, but the final week I had doubts. Thankfully, my mum and friends kept me going."

Support came from all directions. "My university was crucial. They handled all the application procedures and hosted the performance in their auditorium. My guru, Dr. Srividya, was travelling but returned for the final three days and supported me immensely."

However, Remona's biggest strength was her mother. "She didn’t eat or sleep unless I did. During my dance hours, others could rest — but she chose not to. She said, 'My baby’s dancing. I’ll be with her.' She was my backbone."

Remona also credited her team, Horizon, who stayed on campus throughout the seven days to support her. "They kept me motivated when I was tired or felt like giving up. They clapped, encouraged me, and stayed by my side."

Reflecting on the final moments, she shared, "Those last five minutes were everything. Even after 170 hours, I wore a costume and performed another eight-minute piece. That feeling is indescribable."

She recounted moments of pain, hallucination from sleep deprivation, and bouts of fever. Yet, her message to others is simple and powerful: "Never give up. People said it was humanly impossible. But all the pain was worth it. No pain, no gain."

Looking ahead, Remona aspires to pursue a PhD in Bharatanatyam, following in the footsteps of her guru, Dr. Srividya. “Academics for me will always be linked to dance. What’s meant to happen will happen.”

By Catholic Connect Reporter

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