Ayodhya geared up to hold its annual Deepotsav celebration on 11th November, 2023. On the eve of Diwali, 24 lakh diyas, placed at 51 ghats across Ayodhya nagri were illuminated to spread the light of positivity across Ayodhya. The entire nagri appeared to be nothing less than a magical and enchanted world, straight from the epical era!

The Ministry of Tourism, from the Yogi Adityanath cabinet, earlier announced that over 50 envoys would witness the great Indian culture through Ayodhya Deepotsav in full grandeur. Under the able leadership of Mr. Yogi Adityanath, Ayodhya Deepotsav commenced to woo the hearts of millions of Ayodhyawasis in the year 2017. Since then, every year, lakhs of diyas are illuminated in honour of Bhagwan Ram around the time of Diwali.

What Is The Significance Of Diwali, The Festival Of Lights?

Diwali (or Deepawali) is the Hindu festival of lights that marks the triumph over evil by good. It falls on the darkest night of the year and commemorates the return of Bhagwan Ram to Ayodhya nagri with Sita Maa and Lakshman after serving an exile of 14 years and defeating Ravan, the ruler of Lanka. Diwali is a national and cultural festival of India and is celebrated by all, irrespective of anyone’s religious identity.

The festival of lights unifies the Indian diaspora around the world and soaks up to the festive mood. During this auspicious period of time, Hindus worship Gods and Goddesses like Maa Kali, Maa Lakshmi, and Bhagwan Ganesh, immersing themselves in spirituality and connecting with God.

Hindus also start new business ventures during Diwali, as they believe that this is the most auspicious time of the year to begin anything new. People also decorate their houses with colourful motifs and designs, light diyas at dusk, and give each other sweets and other gift items.

The Great Grand Deepotsav Of Ayodhya

Mr. Yogi Adityanath was present to inaugurate the Ayodhya Deepotsav. Over 25,000+ volunteers from the University of Avadh and the District Administration of Ayodhya helped to illuminate the diyas at the ghats. The Yogi cabinet was eyeing on creating a world record by lighting 24 lakh diyas in 51 ghats across the nagri.

Across the 51 ghats of Ayodhya, it was a visual treat to watch the diyas getting lit one by one and illuminating the entire nagri. Mustard oil was used to light up the diyas. In the previous year, more than 17 lakh diyas were illuminated in all corners of the ghats of Ram Ki Paidi; however, only those diyas were counted that kept burning for five minutes, and a world record was finally set at 15.76 lakh diyas.

A Guinness Book of World Records team attended the event, where 25,000+ volunteers lit up the diyas while the team kept counting them using a drone camera. In the morning, volunteers were asked to pour mustard oil into the diyas, and every person was given 1-litre of oil to fill around 30 diyas. Overall, it was a magnificent celebration that spread the light of positivity across Ayodhya.