NEW DELHI: Ayodhya, the temple city on the banks of the Saryu River in Uttar Pradesh, marked a spectacular Deepotsav on Saturday, setting a new Guinness World Record with the lighting of 22.23 lakh earthen lamps across 51 ghats. This surpasses the city's previous record of 17 lakh diyas.
The tradition of Deepotsav in Ayodhya began with the advent of the Yogi Adityanath-led government in 2017, initially lighting 51,000 diyas. Over the years, the scale of the celebration has magnified, with the count reaching 4.10 lakh in 2019, over 6 lakh in 2020, and exceeding 9 lakh in 2021.
Ayodhya sets new world record
In 2022, the city witnessed the illumination of more than 17 lakh diyas along the ghats of Ram ki Pairi. However, the Guinness Book of World Records considered only those lamps that remained lit for five minutes or more, ultimately setting the record at 15,76,955.
Earlier in the day, a procession featuring eighteen tableaux, centered around themes from the Ramayana, Ramcharitmanas, and various social issues, made its way through Ayodhya. These tableaux, which highlighted concerns such as children's rights, women's safety, self-reliance, environmental protection, and advancements in science and technology, reflected various government initiatives.
The procession, inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Minister of Tourism and Culture Jaiveer Singh, commenced from Udaya Square and traversed different parts of the city before concluding at Ram Katha Park. Notably, this year's Deepotsav is particularly significant as Ayodhya is actively engaged in the construction of the Ram temple.
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