The eighth Deepotsav in Ayodhya created two new Guinness World Records for the world's largest display of oil lamps on Wednesday. The two records were set in the Ram Temple city with over 25 lakh earthen diyas lit together and 1,121 'vedacharyas' performing aarti simultaneously.
The records comes as lakhs of earthen lamps were lit on the bank of Saryu River in Ayodhya in an attempt to set a world record to mark the Deepotsav celebrations, the first in Ayodhya after the consecration of the Ram Temple in January.
The Guinness World Record was created for the most number of people performing 'diya' rotation simultaneously and the largest display of oil lamps.
A total of 25,12,585 oil lamps were lit in Ayodhya the Department of Tourism, the Uttar Pradesh government and District Administration during the Deepotsav celebrations. CM Yogi Adityanath, who was present at the occassion, received the certificates of the two new Guinness World Records.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath led the celebrations as he, along with his cabinet members and others, lit the first few lamps to mark the launch of the Deepostav.
Pravin Patel, the adjudicator at Guinness World Records, who visited Ayodhya with Guinness Consultant Nischal Bharot for verification, announced the new records.
The entire town was decked up for the event even as music dedicated to Lord Ram beamed from all corners reverberating in the air. Adityanath first had 'darshan' of Lord Ram, then paid his respects at his feet, according to a statement from the government. After this, the Chief Minister lit lamps in front of the Lord.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said this is the first Diwali after the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple and added that this auspicious moment has come after 500 years with the countless sacrifices and penance of Ram bhakts.
Sharing a post by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, PM Modi said in a post on X: "Divine Ayodhya! This is the first Deepawali after the consecration ceremony of Lord Shri Ram, the epitome of virtue, in his magnificent temple. The unique beauty of Shri Ram Lalla's temple in Ayodhya is going to overwhelm everyone."
"After 500 years, this auspicious moment has come with the countless sacrifices and penance of Ram bhakts. It is our good fortune that all of us have become witnesses to this historic occasion," Modi said.
CM Yogi Adityanath first had 'darshan' of Lord Ram at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, where he paid his respects at his feet. He also performed aarti on the banks of Saryu River in the temple town.
The Ram Temple was visited on the occasion by several ministers and other dignitaries, including Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak.