NEW DELHI, Nov 11: On the eve of Diwali, the kingdom of Lord Rama Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday witnessed grand “Deepotsav” celebrations and illuminated its ghats with lakhs of earthen lamps creating a new world record.
The temple town, which is located on the bank of the Saryu River, broke its own world record. About 22.23 lakh “diyas” were lit at the same time across 51 ghats in Ayodhya to create a new Guinness World Record.
Ayodhya began mass “Deepotsav” celebrations from 2017 when the BJP government led by Yogi Adityanath assumed office. In that year, about 51,000 diyas were lit and the number went up to 4.10 lakh in 2019. In 2020, over 6 lakh earthen lamps were lit and more than 9 lakh in 2021.
In 2022, more than 17 lakh diyas were lit across the ghats of Ram ki Pauri. However, the Guinness Book of World Records only took those diyas into consideration which remained lit for five minutes or more and the record was set at 15,76,955.
Earlier in the day, eighteen tableaux, themed on the Ramayana, the Ramcharitmanas, and various social issues, were part of a procession taken out ahead of the Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya.
The procession, which was flagged off by Uttar Pradesh Minister of Tourism and Culture Jaiveer Singh, began from the Udaya Square and passed through various parts of the city to reach the Ram Katha Park.
The tableaux were themed on issues such as children’s rights and basic education, women’s safety and welfare, self-reliance, protection of forest and environment, and science and technology. They also showcased different government initiatives.
This year’s celebrations are said to be special as the construction work of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is nearing end and the much-awaited inauguration is scheduled to take place on January 22 2024 in the presence of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
(Manas Dasgupta)