Ayodhya’s grand Deepotsav finds spot in the Guinness Book of World Records

The glorious Deepotsav event organised on the banks of Sarayu river in the temple town under the supervision of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has found a place in the Guinness World Records as a total 5.61 lakh earthen lamps (diyas) were illuminated on the occasion on the eve of Diwali (Saturday) at Ram Ki Paidi ghat in Ayodhya.

मुख्यमंत्री श्री @myogiadityanath जी के नेतृत्व में उत्तर प्रदेश सरकार द्वारा एक और कीर्तिमान ‘गिनीज वर्ल्ड रिकॉर्ड’ में दर्ज किया गया है।

आज #Deepotsav2019 के आयोजन के दौरान प्रभु श्रीराम की नगरी अयोध्या में एक साथ सबसे अधिक दीपों को प्रज्ज्वलित किया गया। pic.twitter.com/xKWmqO5kIq

— Yogi Adityanath Office (@myogioffice) October 26, 2019

This year’s count of diyas lit on the riverbank far surpassed the three lakh-plus number of ‘diyas’ lit last year. The ghat was illuminated with almost five lakh sixty-one thousand diyas but at the time the Guinness book of world records representatives took the count via a drone the total number of illuminated diyas stood at four lakh ten thousand, which went on to become a new world record.

Uttar Pradesh government’s Director of Information Shishir said, “Last year’s record was of three lakh one thousand one hundred eighty-six ‘diyas’ at the ghat. This time, it was four lakh 10 thousand ‘diyas’ lit at the ghat. This was announced by Guinness World Records representative and is a new record. Apart from this, more than two lakh ‘diyas’ were lit elsewhere than the ghat. In all, more than six lakh ‘diyas’ were lit.”

Days ahead of the Supreme Court verdict on the title suit over the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land, people from various walks of life came together and volunteered to light the diyas and be a part of this momentous occasion.

During the event, a symbolic descent of Lord Rama and Seeta took place, a helicopter turned into ‘Pushpak Viman’ and, the CM Yogi Adityanath and Mahant Nritya Gopal Das did the symbolic coronation of Lord Rama.

Deputy Speaker of Republic of Fiji Veena Bhatnagar, Governor Anandiben Patel and Union minister Pralhad Singh Patel were present to grace the occasion.

Days ahead of this grand festival, Yogi government had decided to grant the status of “state fair” to the upcoming festival of Deepotsav in Ayodhya. It has decided to sanction a budget of Rs 133 crore to organise the event.

The three-day Deepotsav is celebrated in Ayodhya during Diwali. The city is decorated with lights, earthen Diyas and artists are invited from all over the nation to display their art.

Last year too, Deepotsav was celebrated in Uttar Pradesh with great zeal and grandiosity. Three lakh ‘Diyas’ was lit on the banks of holy river Saryu to create a new world record. All prominent buildings, temples and ghats in the city were decorated while many cultural programmes were organised for the grand event. The first lady of South Korea was the chief guest on the occasion.

Yogi Adityanath had started the grand official Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya in 2017. In that year, the Sarayu ghat and the temples were all lighted with 1.5 lakh Diyas to mark the Hindu festival of lights.

Source : OpIndia