Ayodhya’s Deepotsav celebrations dazzled the world this Diwali, lighting up the historic ghats with over 2.5 million earthen lamps, or diyas, and setting two Guinness World Records.
The festivities saw an impressive 1,121 people participating in the aarti ritual, marking the city’s eighth annual Deepotsav and the first Diwali celebration since the consecration of the Ram Temple in early 2022.
The new records were set across 55 ghats along the Saryu River, including the famous Ram ki Paidi, where drones were deployed to accurately count the diyas.
Guinness adjudicator Pravin Patel, along with consultant Nischal Bharot, was present in Ayodhya to verify the achievements.
“With a total of 1,121, UP Tourism, Ayodhya’s district administration, and the Saryu Aarti Samiti have set a Guinness World Record for the most people performing diya rotations (aarti) simultaneously. Congratulations!” announced Patel to a cheering crowd.
Patel also confirmed a second record for the largest oil lamp display, stating,
“With a total of 25,12,585 diyas, Ayodhya now holds the Guinness World Record for the largest display of oil lamps, surpassing last year’s total of 22,23,676.”
Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, present to mark the occasion, congratulated Ayodhya on this historic achievement and hailed the festival as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to preserve and promote India’s Sanatan Dharma heritage.
“This is the first Diwali after the reinstallation of Shri Ramlala in his grand temple, and today Ayodhya shines with an aura reminiscent of Treta Yuga. Congratulations to all Ram devotees partaking in Deepotsav 2024!”
The Deepotsav, celebrated annually since 2017, has grown into a majestic display of lights, drawing visitors and devotees from around the country.
This year’s event was enhanced by cultural programmes, tableaux on Ramayana themes, and performances by artists from states across India, showcasing rich regional folk traditions.
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