Diwali 2023: Ayodhya shines to break world record with 24 Lakh Diyas at Grand Deepotsav | WATCH
Last year, around 15 lakh diyas were lit during the grand Deepawali Deepotsav in Ayodhya on the occasion of Diwali.
Diwali 2023: The holy city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh is all set to storm into the record books as the temple town is all lit up around 24 lakh diyas (earthen lamps) at 51 ghats (river banks) during the grand Deepawali Deepotsav that is currently underway on the occasion of Diwali.
The temple town, where a grand Ram Mandir is being built and will have a grand opening in January 2024, was bathed in lights during the ongoing Diwali festivities.
The largest ever Deepotsav in Ayodhya
2017 👉 1.7 polish 🪔
2018 👉3 lac 🪔
2019 👉4 polish 🪔
2020👉6 lac🪔
2021 👉9 lac🪔
2022 👉15 lacquer 🪔
2023 👉24 lacquer 🪔Prabhu welcomes Shri Ram with more than 2 million Diyas this Diwali pic.twitter.com/2apfpZ2Ojv
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) November 11, 2023
Around 25,000 volunteers from Avadh University and the Ayodhya district administration have been roped in to light the diyas simultaneously. The team from the Guinness Book of World Records will count the lamps using a drone camera.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: ‘Deepotsav’ celebrations are underway in Ayodhya as fireworks lit up the night sky.#Diwali pic.twitter.com/KfnzOmodBJ
— ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2023
On Saturday morning, Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh took out a tableau procession from Saket Degree College, depicting the craftsmanship of artisans from across the state. The tableaus – seven from the UP tourism department and 11 from the state information department – reached Ram Katha Park in the afternoon and showcased several inspiring stories from the Ramayana epic.
The procession also featured dance performances from different parts of the country such as Dhobiya dance from Azamgarh, Kullu Nati from Himachal Pradesh, Gatka and Bhangra dance from Punjab, Garba from Gujarat, Dhol Tasha from Nagpur, Rouf from Kashmir, among others valley.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Images of the under-construction Ram temple in Ayodhya, which has been decorated for ‘Deepotsav’. pic.twitter.com/UhuaFFuQaI
— ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2023
Later, the grand Deepotsav program in Ayodhya was launched by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who along with Governor Anandiben Patel participated in pulling a chariot with performers celebrating the legendary return of Lord Ram, his wife Sita and brother Lakshman to Ayodhya portraying a Pushpak. Viman’ after 14 years of exile.
Flowers were also showered on them from a helicopter.
High Commissioners and Ambassadors of more than 50 countries have also been invited to the Deepotsav.
According to an official statement, Lord Shri Ram’s brothers Bharat and Shatrughan welcomed them.
From the helipad, Lord Shri Ram boarded the chariot and along with Mata Janaki, his three brothers, Lord Hanuman and Guru Vashishtha, proceeded towards the site of Ramkatha Park.
Besides Governor Anandi Ben Patel and the Chief Minister, Ministers Jaiveer Singh, Rakesh Sachan and Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra performed the Aarti and paid their respects.
Chief Minister Adityanath also performed the symbolic coronation of Lord Shri Ram.
#WATCH | Ayodhya, UP: CM Yogi Adityanath says, “When the program for the Deepotsav started, it felt like everyone had only one wish and that was to build the temple (Ram Temple)…” pic.twitter.com/MuMYtgm6nY
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) November 11, 2023
On this occasion, the Governor and the Chief Minister released a coffee table book based on the Deepotsav of Ayodhya.
After the formation of the Adityanath-led BJP government in 2017, a grand festival of lights was started in Ayodhya for the first time and 51,000 lamps were lit.
This is the seventh time that the Deepotsav festival is being organized here. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also participated in this event.
In 2022, 15.76 lakh lamps were lit at Ram ki Pauri in Ayodhya, setting a Guinness world record.
(With input from agencies)