Longest beard in the world

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Sarwan Singh - Longest beard in the world?

Sikh sets a new Guinness Book record for the longest beard Nov 17, 2008

Surrey resident Sarwan Singh set a new Guinness Book of World Record by having the longest beard. Singh's beard was measured at 2.36 meters or 7.7 3/4 ft, at a jam packed, Akal Academy in Surrey BC, on Tuesday evening. Over 200 people came out in support of the Akal Academy Music Teacher and his attempt at breaking the world record.

The results of the beard measuring will now be submitted to Guinness Book of World Records for official recognition and the 2.3 meters in length, measurement on Tuesday, made his beard the longest in the whole world. The previous record was held by Shamsher Singh of Punjab, India, with a beard last measured at 1.83 metres in 1977.

"This is history in the making," said Dr. Pargat S Bhurji, the principal and president of Akal Academy, where Singh is a popular and respected music teacher. "Mr. Sarwan Singh is a devout, humble, spiritual man and his beard is considered as a divine gift. He's blessed, he's gifted. Hair is a divine gift. So this is a divine gift from God," said Dr. Bhurji.

Singh stood on a stool while his beard was dipped in water, brushed and then measured three times on a flat service with a measuring tape as the judges, media and over 200 other witnesses looked on.

"I have a feeling of divine happiness and I am thankful that God has chosen me for the gift of the longest beard," said Singh, 42.

The measurement was presided over by Surrey-Newton MLA Harry S. Bains, Surrey RCMP Sgt. Baltej S. Dhillon and lawyer Sukhjinder S. Grewal.

In addition to the Guinness World record, the event started with the children from the Akal Academy performing Dhadhi Varan, a Sikh musical composition, explaining Sikh history taught to them by Sarwan Singh and other Akal Academy teachers. This was followed on by talks on the importance and significance of hair in both a scientific and from the teachings of the Sikh religion.

Is it the longest beard?

Surrey man grows contender for world's longest beard A Surrey, B.C., man is hoping he may soon be recognized as having the world's longest beard on a living male. Three judges measured Sarwan Singh's beard at 2.33 metres, or seven feet 7.75 inches, on Tuesday at a special ceremony at the Akal Academy where Singh is a music teacher.

The addition of the words - on a living male - are important as the longest beard ever, measured at 5.33 m (17' 6) was trimmed after its owner's death and donated to the Smithsonian Institution. (see below)

The current record is held by Shamsher Singh of Punjab, India. His beard was 1.8 metres (six feet) from the end of his chin to the tip in 1997. The measurement will now be submitted to the publishers of the Guinness World Records for recognition.

While the 43-year-old Singh does not speak English, his family told CBC News they were exceptionally proud of his achievement. "Not only to me, he's inspiring to the Sikh community," said his young son Bikram Singh, sporting a tuft of hair on his chin that may one day set another record.

As a devoted Sikh, Singh does not cut or trim his hair, not just his beard, as uncut hair is one of the five objects or symbols of faith of the Sikhs who have taken the vows of the Khalsa, as outlined by the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh. "Whatever God gives us, it is just our job to take care of that. Don't cut it or don't do anything to it," Singh's daughter Gursimran Kaur told CBC News.

One local newspaper reported Sarwan Singh's beard was measured at 1.895 metres, but the Akal Academy maintains the 2.33-metre measurement was correct.

Could it be the longest beard?

Sarwan Singh - 2.33 metres or 7.75 feet - longest beard in the world?

Sikh Teacher's beard the world's longest

Singh's beard was measured at nearly two metres in length.

Surrey, B.C. - Move over India - B.C. is now unofficially home to the world's longest beard.

The whiskers of Surrey resident Sarwan Singh were measured at 1.895 metres Tuesday night.

His beard, witnessed at Surrey's Akal Academy by three judges and close to 200 people, will be submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records for official recognition.

The previous record was held by Shamsher Singh of Punjab, India, with a beard last measured at 1.83 metres in 1977.

"This is history in the making," said Dr. Pargat Bhurji, the principal and president of Akal Academy, where Singh is a popular and respected music teacher.

"Mr. Sarwan Singh is a devout, humble, spiritual man and his beard is considered as a divine gift. He's blessed, he's gifted. Hair is a divine gift. So this is a divine gift from God," said Dr. Bhurji.

Singh stood on a stool while his beard was dipped in water, brushed and then measured three times on a flat surface with a measuring tape as the judges and media and over 200 other witnesses looked on.

As he posed for pictures with his wife and two children, Singh's beard hung from his chin to the floor.

"I have a feeling of divine happiness and I am thankful that God has chosen me for the gift of the longest beard," said Singh, 42. The measurement was presided over by Surrey-Newton MLA Harry S Bains, Surrey RCMP Sgt. Baltej S Dhillon and lawyer Sukhjinder S Grewal.

In addition to the Guinness World record, the event started with the children from the Akal Academy performing Dhadhi Varan, a Sikh musical composition, explaining Sikh history taught to them by Sarwan Singh and other Akal Academy teachers. This was followed by talks on the importance and significance of hair from both a scientific and religious viewpoint as reflected in the teachings of the Sikh religion.

Longest Male Beard

A record sure to be broken as Sarwan Singh's beard, measured just a few days before the Birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev the founder of the Sikh religion, goes into the record books.

Official record as at November 10, 2008

  • WHO: Shamsher Singh
  • WHEN: Last measured on August 18, 1997
  • WHERE: Punjab, India
  • LENGTH: 1.83 m (6 ft)

Back in 1997, Shamsher Singh of Punjab, India, had his beard officially measured at an impressive 1.83 m (6 ft) from the end of chin to the tip. This is the longest beard on a living male.

The longest beard ever was grown by Hans Langseth of Norway, whose whiskers stretched an incredible 5.33 m (17' 6) when measured upon his death in Kensett, Iowa, in 1927. The beard was presented to the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, in 1967.


DID YOU KNOW?

The average beard grows 14 cm in a year, and in an average lifespan, a clean-shaven man will trim off nearly 3.5 kg of whisker hair.

See also

External links


Photos


Akal - longest beard.jpg