Ahead of the grand Deepotsav celebrations, Ayodhya has already started breaking records. On Saturday (18 October), over 21,000 people participated together in the Saryu Aarti held at the riverbank, creating a new Guinness World Record. Nischal Barot, an official from Guinness World Records, confirmed that more than 2,100 participants were counted using QR code scanning, surpassing the previous record of 1,774 participants. The official announcement of this record will be made on Sunday in the presence of CM Yogi.
On Sunday (19 October), the ninth grand edition of Deepotsav will take place in the holy city of Ayodhya, where 29 Lakh oil lamps will be lit in an attempt to set another world record. Over 30,000 volunteers have decorated the 56 ghats of Ram Ki Paidi with these lamps. The Guinness team has completed the counting using drones. This year, 2,611,101 diyas will be lit, breaking the previous record.
Volunteer enthusiasm for the event is at its peak. On Sunday morning, the process of filling lamps with oil and placing cotton wicks will begin. Ayodhya has been beautifully decorated for the occasion, and this spiritual festival is set to enhance the city’s global identity.
A Festival of Faith, Culture, and Technology
Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh stated that the first Deepotsav in 2017 had featured 171,000 lamps. This year, with over 26 Lakhs lamps, a new world record will be created. The number of lamps has increased nearly 15 times over the years. This event reflects deep faith and reverence for Lord Shri Ram. At the Saryu Ghat, 2,100 Vedic priests will conduct a grand aarti. Ayodhya will appear as if “stars have descended to Earth.” Around 1,100 indigenous drones will showcase captivating scenes from the Ramayana, such as Jai Shri Ram, Ram with a bow, Hanuman carrying the Sanjeevani mountain, the Ram Setu, and the Ram Temple.
The Deepotsav AR app is now available for free on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. It is user-friendly for all age groups. The app blends storytelling, devotion, and innovation to bring Ayodhya alive in a digital format. People around the world can light virtual diyas and be part of the celebration. Developed by the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department, this app is a significant step towards the vision of Uttar Pradesh 2047. It aims to foster pride, participation, and cultural connection among the youth through a blend of spiritual heritage and modern innovation.
