Ayodhya, located in Uttar Pradesh, experienced a spectacular Deepotsav celebration on Saturday, adorning its ghats with hundreds of thousands of earthen lamps. On the eve of Diwali, the temple city set a new Guinness World Record by lighting 22.23 lakh diyas simultaneously across 51 ghats along the Saryu River.
This record-breaking tradition began with the onset of Deepotsav celebrations in 2017 under the governance of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The inaugural year witnessed 51,000 diyas, and the numbers escalated to 4.10 lakh in 2019. The subsequent years marked a substantial increase, with over 6 lakh diyas in 2020 and more than 9 lakh in 2021. Notably, in 2022, the ghats of Ram ki Pairi were adorned with a remarkable 17 lakh diyas. However, the Guinness Book of World Records only considered those lamps that remained lit for at least five minutes, setting the record at 15,76,955.
Preceding the Deepotsav festivities, a procession featuring eighteen tableaux, themed around the Ramayana, Ramcharitmanas, and various societal issues, paraded through Ayodhya. Uttar Pradesh Minister of Tourism and Culture, Jaiveer Singh, flagged off the procession at Udaya Square, navigating through different parts of the city before reaching Ram Katha Park.
These thematic tableaux addressed crucial topics such as children’s rights and basic education, women’s safety and welfare, self-reliance, protection of forests and the environment, and advancements in science and technology. Additionally, they showcased various government initiatives aimed at societal development.
The significance of this year’s Deepotsav celebrations is heightened by the ongoing construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The eagerly anticipated inauguration of the Ram Mandir is scheduled for January 22, 2024, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi slated to attend the historic event. The confluence of cultural festivities and the temple’s progress adds a distinct charm to this year’s Deepotsav in Ayodhya.
