Over 25 lakh diyas lit up Ayodhya on Deepotsav
The grand Deepostav celebrations in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya saw over 25 lakh earthen lamps being lit together - a new world record. Over 28 lakh diyas (lamps) were placed on the banks of the Sarayu river, presenting a magnificent golden glow when viewed from above.
The organisers had planned to light up at least 28 lakh diyas; however, they managed to light exactly 25,12,585 diyas to create a new world record.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the spectacle as "amazing, incomparable and unimaginable".
"Many congratulations to the people of Ayodhya for the grand and divine Deepotsav! This Jyotiparva at the holy birthplace of Ram Lalla, illuminated by millions of diyas, is going to be emotional. This beam of light emanating from Ayodhya Dham will fill my family members across the country with new enthusiasm and new energy," the Prime Minister said in an online post.
The Deepotsav showcased the spiritual, traditional, and cultural essence of the holy city, with performances by artists from six countries -- Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Indonesia -- along with a Ram Leela presentation from Uttarakhand. Additionally, various artists from different states performed at the event.
Earlier today, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath received the Deepotsav with an 'aarti'. He also pulled the chariot on which Ramayan artistes performed.
For this year's Deepotsav, Saket Mahavidyalaya crafted 18 stunning tableaux, 11 by the Information Department and seven by the Tourism Department.
The Tourism Department's tableaux depicted scenes from Bal Kand, Ayodhya Kand, Aranya Kand, Kishkindha Kand, Sundar Kand, Lanka Kand, and Uttar Kand, taken from Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas.
"This is the first Deepotsav after the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram mandir in Ayodhya and every effort has been made to give grandeur, and divinity to this programme," Uttar Pradesh Minister Jaiveer Singh had said.