Ayodhya lights 6 lakh diyas to create new world record

The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday lit over six lakh earthen ‘diyas’ on the Saryu river bank to celebrate Diwali, as per PTI report. As volunteers lined up to light the ‘diyas’, a team from the Guinness World Records was present to mark the event.

Nishchal Barot, the team leader, later announced that the final count of diyas stood at 6,06,569, making it the ‘largest display of oil lamps,’ in the world.

The Deepotsav included the reenactment of the arrival of King Ram and his wife Sita to Ayodhya on their ‘pushpak viman’, along with a laser and sound show, cultural programmes and the lighting of a record 5.51 lakh earthen lamps.

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Actors representing the deities of Ram, Sita, and Lakshman descended from a helicopter and were sprinkled with rose petals.

The deities were received by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The event marked the fourth annual Ayodhya Deepotsav, and the first since bhoomi puja for Adoydhya was conducted in August.

The CM and the governor visited the site of the Ram Mandir with the former crediting PM Narendra Modi for having started the construction of the temple.

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He also stated that the Prime Minister had envisioned the creation of “Vedic Ramayana city” in Ayodhya. The CM also stated that next year the target would be to light 7.51 lakh diyas.

Last year, the organisers had lit about 4,10,000 diyas, a world record in 2019.