In Pics: Ayodhya Glimmers With 26 Lakh Lamps as Deepotsav 2025, Sets 2 Guinness World Records

Ayodhya turned into a vision of light and devotion on Sunday evening as Deepotsav 2025 illuminated the city with an astounding 26,17,215 lamps, marking the ninth edition of the grand festival. Devotees

from across India and abroad thronged the streets, chanting “Shri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram”, as the city shimmered along the banks of the sacred Saryu river.Temples, lanes, and homes glittered with diyas, creating an ethereal glow that officials described as unparalleled.

Two Guinness World Records for Uttar Pradesh

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh proudly set two new Guinness World Records. One celebrated the record-breaking 26,17,215 lamps lit across the city, while the other honoured 2,128 Vedacharyas, priests, and seekers performing Maa Saryu Aarti simultaneously. Both records were verified via drone counts and certified by Guinness World Records representatives, adding a modern touch to ancient traditions.

Over 32,000 volunteers from Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University and local organisations helped make the feat possible, responding enthusiastically to the chief minister’s call to light lamps in homes, temples, monasteries, ashrams, and public squares.

A Grand Evening of Rituals and Devotion

The celebrations reached their zenith at Ramkatha Park, where Adityanath, cabinet members, and saints performed a grand aarti to Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lakshman, Bharata, Shatrughna, and Hanuman. The air resonated with the devotional hymn “Ram Aaye Awadh Ki Or Sajni”, as flowers rained from a helicopter and a symbolic coronation of Lord Ram brought a sense of pride and divine reverence.

In a highlight that mesmerised devotees, Lord Ram, Lakshman, and Goddess Sita descended from the Pushpak Viman, recreated via helicopter, while the chief minister himself pulled the sacred chariot. Devotees described the spectacle as divine and reminiscent of the Treta Yuga.

Saints, Dignitaries, and Global Guests

The festival brought together saints, sages, and dignitaries who extended their blessings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Adityanath. Prominent attendees included Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Dr Ram Vilas Vedanti, Raghavacharya Maharaj, Kamal Nayan Das Maharaj, and Santoshacharya Maharaj (Satua Baba). Several state ministers and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Nyas officials, including Champat Rai and Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi, also participated.

Since 2017, Adityanath has transformed Deepotsav from a modest 1.71 lakh lamps into a festival of global significance, now featuring over 26 lakh lamps.

A Feast for the Senses

Earlier in the day, the city came alive with 22 tableaux depicting episodes from the Ramayana, performances by artists from Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, and over 2,000 Indian performers. Streets were adorned with intricate rangolis and flowers, carrying messages of prosperity and devotion.

As night fell, the skies above Ayodhya glittered with a drone show of 1,100 indigenous drones, recreating Lord Ram’s divine form and memorable Ramayana scenes, leaving devotees awestruck.

Later, Chief Minister Adityanath visited the Ram Temple, performing aarti inside the sanctum and at Ram Ki Paidi, accompanied by Champat Rai, Dr Anil Mishra, Sangh Pracharak Gopal Ji, and other dignitaries. In his address, he praised Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Maa Saryu, and Hanuman Ji, describing Deepotsav as a festival symbolising faith, unity, and pride in Sanatan Dharma.(Inputs from PTI)