Smashes coconuts to break his record

BHUBANESWAR: Keshab Swain, the green coconut breaker, earned another Indian record when he smashed as many as 250 tender coconuts in front of the Limca Book of Records officials here on Saturday. He clocked 8.56 minutes. Keshab improved on his own record of breaking 184 coconuts which he had achieved in 6.06 seconds in 2010. Saturday’s was his fifth attempt with the Limca record books. In front of a horde of mediapersons, Keshab smashed his way to the milestone. Marketing Manager of Limca Book of Records V V R Murty, who witnessed the event, announced that it was a new Indian record of non-stop breaking of coconuts.At about 5 pm, the stage was set on Rabindra Mandap premises. The guests waited as Keshab got ready, his arms and waist strapped. After the pleasantries were exchanged and guests introduced, he said a little prayer and got down to business.  Green coconuts were handed over to him and Keshab used his right elbow to smash them, one after another. Then the elbow came to play and soon he was smashing the green coconuts with his forehead as the applause grew louder and louder. In between, he used his knee to break them.  By the time the baskets were emptied, the Limca Book of Records officials called it time. A new record was set: 250 green coconuts were broken in just 8.56 minutes. “We are happy to be witnessing his record for the last five years,” Murty announced. Keshab’s hunger for green coconuts had started as a pastime but soon he got serious about it. In 2007, he came up with his maiden attempt with Limca Books and smashed 144 coconuts in just 7.16 seconds. He continued improving on his records every year.