New Delhi: Ahead of the 'Pran Prantistha' ceremony of Ram Lalla at the Ayodhya Ram Temple on Monday, a Guinness world record was created after 33,258 'diyas' (earthen lamps) were lit to write "Siyavar Ramchandra ki Jai" in Chandrapur in Maharashtra.
The event was held at the Chanda Club ground in the presence of state minister Sudhir Mungantiwar on Saturday night.
The Guinness World Records officials, Milind Werlekar and Prasad Kulkarni, handed the document certifying the feat to Mungantiwar on Sunday morning.
The programme was organised by Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Sarvajanik Vachanalay and several thousand people watched it.
The Consecration Ceremony
The 'Pran Pratisha' ceremony will begin at 12.20 pm and is expected to end by 1 pm on Monday. The Vedic rituals had already started from January 16, a week before the main ceremony.
Ahead of the opening ceremony, the grand temple has been adorned with vibrant flowers and illuminated with special lights, creating a captivating ambiance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the ceremonial enthronement of the idol of Shri Ram Lalla inside the sanctum sanctorum of the grand temple.
A host of leaders and dignitaries from all walks of life, including Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, business tycoons Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, and sporting icons Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni, have been invited to the grand temple opening in Ayodhya.
The grand event will be broadcast live across different platforms in the country.
The temple complex will be opened to people from January 23 onwards.
Global Celebrations
As the grand ceremony draws near, temples across the country and abroad have announced special festivities to mark the occasion.
From Washington DC to Paris to Sydney, events have been planned in various parts of the world on January 22. These programmes are either being organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) or Hindu diaspora groups in 60 countries.