But mentally, I was focused on my goal."
An Indian teenager has broken the record for the longest dance marathon by an individual, with a time of 127 hours.
Sixteen-year-old Srushti Sudhir Jagtap, of Maharashtra, broke the Guinness World Record, dancing for five days straight.
She broke the record of Nepalese dancer Bandana Nepal, who danced for 126 hours and had held the record since 2018.
The official adjudicator of GWR, Swapnil Dangarikar stated that Srushti’s dance marathon, which took place in her college hall was “jam-packed with supporters”.
Srushti was supported by her parents who helped her stay fresh by spraying water on her face from time to time.
She stated that her performance was a “very impressive performance overall”.
Srushti started dancing on May 29, 2023, and she kept going until the afternoon of June 3, according to the Guinness World Records.
After her successful accomplishment, the teenager spent the entire day sleeping.
Choosing Kathak as her choice of dance, Srushti decided to illustrate her country through her performance.
The teenager said it was her “dream to represent India through dance”.
She said: “I wanted to promote our Indian culture.”
Srushti followed a gruelling training schedule consisting of guided meditation (Yoga Nidra), taught to her by her grandfather, to promote deep sleep and restore the body.
Her daily routine was made up of four hours of meditation followed by six hours of dance and three hours of exercise, and she aimed for at least five hours of sleep every night.
The young world record holder achieved two marathons at home, lasting 126 hours, in order to prepare herself for the main event and stayed fresh by consuming coconut water and chocolate.
But she admitted that the last day of her world record attempt was very difficult.
She said: “My body was not responding.
“All my body parts felt frozen and in pain. But mentally, I was focused on my goal.
“Due to strong practice, I was familiar with all the changes in my mind and body, so I was calm and composed until the end.”
As per Guinness World Record guidelines for ‘longest marathon’ records, the participant is permitted a five-minute rest break for every continuous hour of activity.
These rest breaks can be accumulated if not taken.
Srushti used her breaks to nap and talk to her parents.
She credited her parents for their encouragement.
Srushti added: “I feel proud that I could give this great achievement to our country.”
In order to obtain this record, the participant is required to perform a recognised style of dance and their feet must, at all times, move to the music.