The City of Ayodhya the home of Lord Ram on Friday earned a new Guinness world record by lighting 6,06,569 earthen lamps (diyas) at the majestic Ram Ki Paidi ghat on the banks of the Saryu river and other surrounding areas of the temple town during the fourth Festival of Lights.
Ram Ki Paidi, a series of ghats, looked like an illuminated night sky with thousands of clay lamps at Saryu. A team from Guinness World Records was there to judge the event. By creating this world record, the Ayodhya administration broke its own record it set last year by lighting 4,10,000 diyas. Chief minister Adityanath lit the first diya (clay lamp) at Ram Ki Paidi ghat.
Governor Anandiben Patel was also present on the occasion. The CM congratulated the Ayodhya administration for the world record and for organising the Festival of Lights event successfully. Close to 8,000 students of Ram Manohar Lohia Awadh University, Faizabad, had volunteered to make the event successful.
“I congratulate the Ayodhya administration, students of Ram Manohar Lohia University and all volunteers for creating this world record,” Adityanath. He also shared the message in Hindi over Twitter.
पतित-पावनी माँ सरयू के तट पर आज त्रेतायुग का प्रतिबिंब देख मन प्रफुल्लित है।
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) November 13, 2020
आज वैदिक मंत्रों के मध्य 6,06,569 दीपों के प्रज्ज्वलन का बना विश्व रिकॉर्ड, अपनी संस्कृति के प्रति सुदृढ़ होते जन विश्वास का प्रतीक है।
यह विश्व रिकॉर्ड आप सभी राम भक्तों को समर्पित है। pic.twitter.com/jo3ZUTP9t7
प्रभु श्री राम, समता, समन्वय, शुचिता, मर्यादा, त्याग, धैर्य, करुणा एवं पुरुषार्थ आदि गुणों के सर्वोच्च प्रतिनिधि हैं। ‘अंत्योदय’ उनका स्वभाव है।
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) November 13, 2020
प्रभु श्री राम के स्वागत का अर्थ है उनके गुणों का अभिनन्दन। इन गुणों के उजास से सम्पूर्ण धरा को भर देना ही "दीपोत्सव" का उद्देश्य है। pic.twitter.com/SVsCTq1vPO
Hundreds of temples and maths in Ayodhya were also lit up for the occasion. Almost the entire town was decorated with colourful lights. In the 2018 Festival of Lights a Guinness record of lighting 310,000 earthen lamps were set. The Adityanath government has been organising the Festival of Lights celebration in Ayodhya on the eve of Diwali for the past 3 years. Diwali celebrations featured Ram Leela by professional actors and was watched Adityanath watched this performance along with other members of his cabinet.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished everyone a Happy Diwali over Twitter. He gave a special Diwali shout out to soldiers. He also didn't forget about Children's Day which was started by India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
सभी देशवासियों को दीपावली की हार्दिक मंगलकामनाएं।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 14, 2020
Wishing everyone a Happy Diwali! May this festival further brightness and happiness. May everyone be prosperous and healthy.
This Diwali, let us also light a Diya as a #Salute2Soldiers who fearlessly protect our nation. Words can’t do justice to the sense of gratitude we have for our soldiers for their exemplary courage. We are also grateful to the families of those on the borders. pic.twitter.com/UAKqPLvKR8
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 13, 2020
देश के प्रथम प्रधानमंत्री पं. जवाहर लाल नेहरू को उनकी जयंती पर मेरी विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 14, 2020
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also shared his heartfelt Diwali wishes over Twitter.
दीपावली का यह पवित्र पर्व सभी देशवासियों के जीवन में सुख और समृद्धि लाए, सभी के उत्तम स्वास्थ्य की कामना करता हूँ।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 14, 2020
दीपोत्सव की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। pic.twitter.com/xbKReqxV9e
With cases rising in India concern has been expressed by officials regarding large scale Diwali festivities.
Photo courtesy of Deccan Chronicle.