Ayodhya Deepotsav Set To Make Two World Records: 28 Lakh Diyas And Saryu Aarti By 1,100 Vedacharyas—Here's All About It

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government is gearing up for a historic Guinness World Record attempt by illuminating close to 28 lakh diyas at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple during Deepotsav on Wednesday (30 October).

Additionally, the festival will feature an attempt at another record, as over 1,100 participants (Vedacharyas) are set to perform the largest collective aarti at Saryu Ghat.

Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and UP Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath are set to attend the event where artists from many countries will perform.

"This is the first 'Deepotsav' after the Pran Pratishtha of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, and every effort has been made to give grandeur and divinity to this programme," UP Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh said.

More than 30,000 volunteers have been mobilised to support the lighting of 28 lakh diyas across 55 ghats, with key locations like New Ghat, Old Ghat, and Bhajan Sandhya serving as central spots for the celebrations.

A team from Guinness World Records is monitoring the Deepotsav celebrations, aiming to set two records: a 1,100-person Saryu Aarti and the lighting of 28 lakh diyas.

On Tuesday, a 30-member team led by Guinness consultant Nischal Barot began tallying the diyas across the 55 ghats of the Saryu River with the help of drones.

An elaborate Shobha Yatra is also planned, featuring 18 tableaus and artists from six countries and 16 Indian states, highlighting the event’s rich cultural diversity.

To ensure safety, approximately 10,000 security personnel, including undercover officers, have been deployed, and access along 17 key routes to Ram Ki Paidi is limited to pass holders.

LED screens have been installed to offer live viewing, with space to accommodate 5,000-6,000 attendees, and additional viewing points throughout the city provide broad access.

Special low-soot lamps are being used to promote environmental awareness, while the Animal Husbandry Department has committed to lighting 1.5 lakh "Gau Deep" lamps for the occasion.

Security is robust, with Anri-Terror Squad (ATS)0, Special Task Force (STF), and Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF) commandos stationed throughout the area.

Wax lamps are used outside the main temple to minimise pollution and maintain cleanliness, with careful oversight of decorations to protect temple structures from damage.

Retired Inspector General of Police Ashu Shukla has been appointed to oversee the decorations, ensuring that lamps do not stain or harm the temple’s surfaces.