Ayodhya is set for the fourth Deepotsav on Friday, as the administration plans to set a new Guinness World Record of lighting 551,000 earth diyas on 28 ghats in the temple city. Last year, a Guinness World Record was also set when 410,000 earth lamps were lit on the banks of the Saryu River. A large portion of the diyas will be illuminated at the renovated Ram Ki Paidi ghats, where Prime Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel will preside over the event.
The Bharatiya Janata Party government kicked off the Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya when he was elected to power in 2017.
Eight thousand students from Ram Manohar Lohia Awadh University and Ayodhya faculties have been trained to create the Guinness World Record. But participation in all public events has been restricted due to the pandemic. The entry of outsiders has also been prohibited.
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In Deepotsav, around 300 temples and mathematics will be illuminated. At the Ram Temple, under construction, about 21,000 diyas will be lit on Saturday.
In view of increased air pollution, there will only be one firecracker laser display at Deepotsav. “This year Deepotsav will be digital,” said Navneet Sehgal, the additional chief secretary. There will also be a laser show on Lord Ram’s arrival in Ayodhya after 14 years in exile. Dance forms such as Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Manipuri, Kuchipudi and Kathak will also be displayed through a laser show.
The state tourism department has launched a Twitter campaign to reach a wider audience for the Deepotsav celebration.
This year’s Deepotsav celebrations are special, as they would be the first after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, paving the way for its opening ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the ceremony.
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