The ninth edition of Deepotsav in Ayodhya is set to be celebrated on a grand scale, with the Sarayu Maha Aarti expected to set a new record. This year, 1,221 priests will participate in the Maha Aarti, symbolizing social harmony.
The event aims to light over 2.6 million (26 lakh) earthen lamps, even if the Guinness World Records team does not conduct an official count.
Drone and laser shows will be the main attractions of the celebration.
The ninth edition of Deepotsav, which has placed the holy city of Ayodhya on the global stage with its divine splendor, will also be unforgettable. Although this year’s event may not set a world record for the number of lamps lit, a new milestone will be achieved with the Sarayu Maha Aarti. Preparations are underway to increase the number of priests by 100 this time.
Last year, 1,121 priests, under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, stood together to perform the Aarti of River Sarayu. This year, 1,221 priests will take part.
Just like the previous year, this year’s Maha Aarti aims to convey a message of social harmony. The event is being coordinated by Mayor Mahant Girishpati Tripathi.
In the eighth edition of Deepotsav, Ayodhya had set a new record by lighting 25,12,585 lamps for five minutes. Around 28 lakh lamps were arranged across 55 ghats of the Sarayu River. For the ninth edition, the Yogi government has set a target of lighting 26,11,101 lamps.
Although this year there are no plans to have the lamp count verified by the Guinness World Records team, the grandeur and glory of this Deepotsav will remain undiminished. To make the celebration memorable, the number of priests (archaks) participating in the Maha Aarti is being increased by 100.
Mayor Mahant Girishpati Tripathi, who is coordinating the event, said that among the 1,221 archaks taking part in the Maha Aarti will be a large number of Vedic scholars, saints, religious leaders, women, as well as laborers, boatmen, industrialists, doctors, traders, lawyers, yoga practitioners, and people from various walks of life.
All women participants will wear yellow attire, and just like last year, the women’s group will be led by a woman. Last year, the Mayor’s wife, Rajlakshmi Tripathi, led the ceremony. All the priests will stand together in separate rows spanning about 1.5 kilometers along the river.
Drone and Laser Shows to Steal the Spotlight
To enhance the grandeur of this year’s Deepotsav, there will be drone shows, laser displays, projection lighting, and flame shows to captivate the audience. The preparations are being overseen by Tourism Department Deputy Director Kirti Singh, who said that the ninth edition of Deepotsav will also be made special. Over 500 drones will illuminate the Ayodhya sky with vibrant colors, and projection lighting will depict images of great personalities.
