India / Ayodhya plans another record by lighting 5.51 lakh diyas on Deepotsav

Ayodhya: The Ayodhya administration is geared for the fourth Deepotsav on Friday (November 13) to set a new Guinness World record of lighting 551,000 earthen diyas at 28 ghats in the temple town.

Last year too, a Guinness record was made when 410,000 earthen lamps were lit up on the banks of the Saryu. A bulk of diyas will be lit up at the renovated Ram Ki Paidi ghats, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel will preside over the event.

The Bharatiya Janata Party government started Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya when it was voted to power in 2017.

Deepawali is celebrated for the homecoming of Lord Ram along with wife Sita and brother Lakshman after a 14-year exile.

Eight thousand students from Ram Manohar Lohia Awadh University and colleges in Ayodhya have been trained to create the Guinness World record. But participation in all public events has been restricted because of the pandemic. The entry of outsiders has also been prohibited.

Prime Minister Modi is likely to be a part of this year’s virtual celebration which will take place at Ayodhya’s Sri Ramlala Darbar. While the state government has decided to light over 5,50,000 physical diyas, the participants can do so virtually.

This year’s ceremony is special, as it comes nearly three months after the temple’s foundation was laid in August.

“The virtual Deepotsav too will be no less real than the actual one. The portal will have a portrait of Sri Ram Lalla Virajman before which the virtual lamps will be lit. The portal will have the facility to pick up the lamp-stand of one’s choice — steel, brass or any other material. An option of using ghee or oil will also be available for devotees.

After the lamps are lit, based on the details of the devotees, a ‘thank you’ digital letter carrying the picture of Shri Ram Lalla from the UP CM will also be issued.

“The portal will be up before the main event on Nov 13,” said a UP government spokesman.

A state government statement said that Yogi Adityanath has issued instructions to make Deepotsav grander this time, but has also cautioned that there should be no breach of Covid-19 protocol. Directives have also been issued to hold various events daily while ensuring all Covid-19 protocols.

For the people of Ayodhya, diyas will be lit along the ‘Ram Ki Pairi’, all mutts, temples and homes so that the whole temple town would appear lit up brightly.

Meanwhile, security was tightened and all events were cancelled in twin cities of Ayodhya and Faizabad on Monday, the first anniversary of the Ayodhya verdict delivered by the Supreme Court.