In a grand celebration on the eve of Diwali, Ayodhya has once again surpassed its own record during the ‘Deepotsav’ festival by illuminating over 22 lakh diyas across 51 ghats in the city.
This annual tradition, initiated with the Yogi Adityanath government in 2017, has seen remarkable growth each year. Beginning with 51,000 diyas in 2017, the numbers surged to 4.10 lakh in 2019, over 6 lakh in 2020, and exceeded 9 lakh in 2021, establishing a Guinness World Record.
In 2022, Ayodhya witnessed more than 17 lakh diyas illuminating the ghats of ‘Ram ki Pairi.’ However, only those remaining lit for five minutes or more were considered by the Guinness Book of World Records, resulting in a recorded figure of 15.76 lakh diyas.
The Deepotsav event featured notable participation from Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel. Symbolizing the legendary return of Lord Ram after 14 years of exile, both were seen pulling a chariot. Adityanath further conducted the symbolic coronation of Lord Ram during the festivities. Additionally, a commemorative coffee table book capturing the essence of Ayodhya’s Deepotsav was unveiled.
This marks the seventh occurrence of the Deepotsav festival in Ayodhya, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi participating in the event last year. The grand display of diyas not only signifies the triumph of light over darkness but also showcases the unity and cultural richness of Ayodhya during the festive season.
