Ayodhya Dazzles on Diwali Eve: Over 25 Lakh Diyas Break World Records at Deepotsav!

Ayodhya came alive with festivities on Wednesday as a colorful procession featuring tableaux of characters from the Ramayana wound its way through the temple town, marking the eighth Deepotsav celebration. At the end of the procession, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the mythical figures with an 'aarti' and even pulled the chariot carrying artists portraying Lord Ram, Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman.

In anticipation of Diwali, millions of diyas were lit along the banks of the Saryu River. CM Adityanath also offered prayers at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, accompanied by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak.

The Yogi Adityanath-led UP government planned to illuminate 25 lakh diyas on Wednesday evening, arranged in squares of 16 and special patterns, enhanced by laser light displays to commemorate the historic occasion.

In Ram Katha Park, an exhibition showcasing artworks depicting the Ramayana was organized, attended by CM Adityanath, Union Minister Shekhawat, and Deputy CMs Pathak and Keshav Prasad Maurya.

This year, 1,100 participants performed a special 'aarti' along the riverbanks, a new addition to the celebrations.

The Deepotsav aims to highlight Ayodhya's spiritual, traditional, and cultural essence, featuring performances by artists from six countries-Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Indonesia-as well as a Ram Leela presentation from Uttarakhand.

Extending Diwali greetings to the public, CM Adityanath emphasized the festival's significance in the Sanatan Dharma tradition. "Thousands of years ago, devotees across Bharatkhand began celebrating this festival in honor of Lord Shri Ram's return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and the commencement of Ramrajya," he stated.

Before the festivities began, Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya remarked, "This is the first Deepotsav following the Pran Pratishtha program of Lord Shri Ram. There is great joy among the devotees... Today, over 25 lakh diyas will be lit, setting a new world record."

The police and civic administration implemented extensive security measures for the celebrations, overseen by Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar.

On Tuesday, CM Adityanath's office shared on social media that preparations for Deepotsav were nearing completion, with lamp placement in progress and trials for laser, sound, and drone shows underway.