365Telugu.com online news, November 1st,2024: Ayodhya celebrated its eighth edition of Deepotsav on October 30, 2024, lighting over 2.5 million diyas (earthen lamps) in a spectacular pre-Diwali event. This year’s festivities achieved two Guinness World Records: one for the most people performing ‘aarti’ simultaneously and another for the largest display of oil lamps.
The records were set across 55 ghats, including the famous Ram ki Paidi, along the banks of the Saryu River. A remarkable 1,121 ‘vedacharyas’ (teachers of religious texts) participated in the simultaneous ‘aarti,’ while drones were used to count the 2.5 million diyas lit during the celebration.
Pravin Patel, the Guinness World Records adjudicator, was present to verify the achievements alongside Guinness Consultant Nischal Bharot. He announced the new records on Wednesday evening, congratulating the organizers: “With a total of 1,121, U.P. Tourism, the District Administration of Ayodhya, and Saryu Aarti Samiti, you are the Guinness World Records title holder for most people performing diya rotations simultaneously! Congratulations!”
For the second record, he stated, “With a total of 2,512,585 diyas, you are the new Guinness World Records title holder for the largest display of oil lamps!” Patel noted that the previous record for the largest display was 2,223,676 diyas, set during last year’s Deepotsav.
Patel emphasized the importance of adhering to guidelines, stating that both records were achieved in compliance with the rules.
Deepotsav, a grand celebration of lights, has been held annually during Diwali since 2017 in Ayodhya, a town revered as the birthplace of Lord Ram. Upon receiving the Guinness World Records certificate, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his heartfelt congratulations to Ayodhya, the state, and the nation for this remarkable achievement.