Ayodhya administration seeks Guinness record for lighting earthen lamps

Shailendra Varma, the nodal officer for the event, said the 600,000 diyas would be lit on Deepotsav, which would be celebrated a day before Diwali on November 13.

Authorities in Ayodhya are preparing for the fourth Deepotsav celebrations on the eve of Diwali when they are expected to light 600,000 diyas (earthen lamps) and beat the record they set last year by lighting 410,000 lamps on the banks of the river Saryu to celebrate the festival of lights. The Ayodhya administration last year created a Guinness record by lighting 410,000 diyas.

Devotees light earthen lamps on the bank of Saryu River during Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya in 2019. (PTI FILE)

Officials said they are determined to break the last year’s record. They have roped in 8,000 university and college students and trained them for it.

Shailendra Varma, the nodal officer for the event, said the 600,000 diyas would be lit on Deepotsav, which would be celebrated a day before Diwali on November 13.

Separately, technical experts from various agencies gave a presentation to Nripendra Misra, the chairman of the construction committee of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, on testing of the shrine’s foundation pillars and overall construction.

Misra arrived in Ayodhya on Friday for a three-day visit to review the construction work.