Bhai Sarwan Singh's beard being measured by officials
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Surrey B.C - On November 11th 2008, Surrey resident Sarwan 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.
