The city of Ayodhya has achieved two Guinness World Records during its eighth annual Deepotsav celebration, the first such event since the consecration of the Ram Temple in January 2024.
At 55 ghats (ghat is a broad set of steps that lead down to a river or lake in the Indian subcontinent, especially for bathing), including Ram ki Paidi on the banks of the Saryu River, the city illuminated 25,12,585 earthen lamps (diyas), surpassing the previous year's record of 22,23,676. In a separate achievement, 1,121 vedacharyas (teachers of religious texts) performed a coordinated aarti ceremony, establishing a record for the most people performing diya rotations simultaneously.
Pravin Patel, the Guinness World Records adjudicator who visited Ayodhya alongside consultant Nischal Bharot, verified both records using drone calculations. “While it is important that we have the numbers, it is also important that you follow the guidelines. You have met the guidelines for both records,” Patel noted during the verification. For the aarti record, which was a new category, organisers had to meet a minimum threshold of 250 participants.
The event, initiated by the Yogi Adityanath government in 2017, has seen consistent growth. The scale has increased from 1.71 lakh diyas in 2017 to 3.01 lakh in 2018, 4.04 lakh in 2019, 6.06 lakh in 2020, 9.41 lakh in 2021, 15.76 lakh in 2022, and 22.23 lakh in 2023.
Over 30,000 volunteers from Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, its affiliated colleges, inter-colleges, and NGOs participated in the operation, managing the addition of oil and wicks to the lamps. The evening included a drone show featuring 500 drones and performances by artists from Nepal, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia, who presented their interpretations of the Ramlila.
However, the event has drawn criticism over its guest list. Awadhesh Prasad, the Samajwadi Party member of parliament from Faizabad, who defeated BJP's Lallu Singh in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, alleged he was not invited to the celebrations. Prasad represents the Samajwadi Party, which emerged as the third largest party in the country with 37 Lok Sabha seats in 2024.
Speaking to the media in Lucknow on October 30, Prasad said, “I want to congratulate the people of Ayodhya on the occasion of Diwali. I consider myself lucky to be elected from Faizabad. Now, the BJP is politicising our festivals too. I have not received any invitation or pass for the Deepotsav 2024 yet. However, I will still go to Ayodhya today. The festival doesn't belong to any one party.”
The celebration began in the morning with 18 tableaux proceeding from Saket intercollege to Ram Katha park. Over 1,300 artists from India and abroad participated in the celebrations, which included a three-dimensional computer graphics show and fireworks.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath presided over the ceremonies, accompanied by Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, and Ram temple trust officials.
The total number of diyas lit across the town, including those in homes, mutts, temples, and ashrams, reached 35 lakh, according to official figures. The event was jointly organised by U.P. Tourism, the District Administration of Ayodhya, and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University.
The records were officially awarded to U.P. Tourism, Government of U.P., District Administration of Ayodhya, and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, as confirmed by the Guinness World Records representative following the drone calculations.
