Ayodhya Deepotsav sets Guinness World Record as over 22 lakh 'diyas' illuminate Ram Ki Paidi

Earlier in the day, Shobha Yatra, a key component of Ayodhya’s Deepotsav, was flagged off by Uttar Pradesh Minister of Tourism and Culture Jaiveer Singh.

18 tableaux, themed on the Ramayana, the Ramcharitmanas and various social issues, were part of the procession. The procession, which also had performances by folk artistes and 'aartis', started from the Udaya Square and passed through various parts of the city to reach the Ram Katha Park.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel took part in pulling a chariot carrying artistes depicting the fabled return of Lord Ram, his wife Sita and brother Lakshman to Ayodhya on a Pushpak Viman' after 14 years of exile. Flowers were also showered on them from a helicopter.

Apart from 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.

The Ram Temple in Ayodhya which is currently under construction was decked up on the occasion of Deepotsav.

The Deepotsav tradition in Ayodhya began with the formation of the Yogi Adityanath government in 2017. Beginning with 51,000 diyas in 2017, the number went up to 4.10 lakh in 2019, over 6 lakh in 2020 and more than 9 lakh in 2021, setting a Guinness World Record.

In 2022, more than 17 lakh diyas were lit across ghats of Ram ki Paidi, but the Guinness Book of World Records only took those diyas into consideration which remained lit for five minutes or more and the record was 15.76 lakh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief guest at the last Deepotsav in October. This year's event will be special as the construction work of Ram temple is in full swing in Ayodhya.