Great efforts by UP Tourism for illuminating 9, 41,551, largest Display of Oil Lamps in the World
Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram is once again in limelight for creating Guinness World Records consecutively five times in a row on the Deepotsav event. The Deepotsav event (Festival of Light) was held with much fanfare by illuminating 9, 41,551 Diyas (Oil lamps made up of clay by potters) in one go at Ram ki Paidi. On Deepotsav, the main Saryu Ghat got illuminated with diyas in one go which has created a history in entering Guinness Book.
To evaluate the accuracy of numbers of Diyas illuminated, Rishi Nath Guinness World Records adjudicator for the Asia Pacific and Swapnil Dangarikar, Nischhal Barot – Guinness World Records Attempt Consultant along with their team were present in Ayodhya on the special eve. To figure out an exact number of Diya’s, a drone helped count the exact number of lamps: 9, 41,551. The official certificate declaring the world record has been handed over to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath by Swapnil Dangarikar, soon after the counting.
Illuminated Diyas on Ram ki Paidi at Saryu River Ghat
Deepotsav celebrations began on Wednesday, 3rd November 2021 in Ayodhya in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Central Tourism, and Culture Minister Kishan Reddy, other ministers, diplomats from different countries, and officials of UP government. A huge crowd of more than 5.00 lakh people was gathered to witness the live event. The ghats looked majestic with the flickering wicks of lamps being reflected in the river Saryu.
It’s a great effort by Mukesh Kumar Meshram IAS, Principal Secretary Tourism and Director General of UP Tourism, and his able team who made this event possible and once again brought Ayodhya into the limelight globally. It was collective efforts by the UP tourism department’s team, Ram Manohar Lohiya Awadh University’s students and faculty, and District administration of Ayodhya.
Yogi Adityanath – Chief Minister of UP while addressing the ‘Deepotsav’ event said “Our generation is not only fortunate to see the start of the construction of a Ram temple here but we also attended the historic event. In the struggle of 500 years, many saints passed away with a dream to see the start of construction. I thank PM Modi who is the one who implemented the ideology of Ram Rajya,” according to news agency PTI.
Mukesh Kumar Meshram IAS, Principal Secretary Tourism and Director General of UP Tourism
Mukesh Kumar Meshram IAS, Principal Secretary Tourism and Director-General UP Tourism said “It takes a lifetime to create a history. But when you keep creating history in just one life, you are special. Yes, it’s our consecutive 5th year of setting a new Guinness World Record with this new one: The largest display of oil lamps with 9, 41,551 oil lamps. I am privileged and proud to be a part of this, now, internationally recognized event #Deepotsav’21”.
Meshram further added “What an amazing experience it was!!! We made world record at Deepotsav-2021 Ayodhya, in the category of the largest display of Oil Lamps with 9, 41,551 Deeyas-oil lamps, incidentally breaking our own record of the last year which had 6.06 lakh lamps). Congratulations to UP tourism department team, Ram Manohar Lohiya Awadh University’s students and faculty, the district administration Ayodhya and all the people associated with the event”.
It may be noted that Ram ki Paidi is a series of ghats on the bank of River Saryu in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. A large number of pilgrims visit every day to take a sacred bath in holy Saryu waters.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
