Fireworks on Rama's pyre light up the sky during Deepputsu celebrations in Ayodhya. (Deepak Gupta/Hindustan Times)
Diwali 2024 Highlights: Ayodhya set a new Guinness World Record by lighting 2,512,585 lamps at Ram Ki Padi and 54 other ghats along the Saryu river during the 8th Diputsu. This feat surpassed the previous record of 2,223,000 days set in 2023. At around 6 pm, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lit the inaugural daya at Ram Ki Pedi, kicking off the event. About 30,000 volunteers from the Ram Manohar Lohia University of Oudh lit lamps at 55 ghats across Ayodhya, where a total of 2.8 lakh lamps were installed to exceed the target of lighting more than 2.5 lakh lamps.…read more
Diputsu celebrations included around 1,100 people performing a special aarti along the banks of the Sariv river along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The event featured performances by artists from six countries including Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and Indonesia.
A Ram Leela show is being organized from Uttarakhand. Tight security measures have been put in place for the festivities, with over 10,000 security personnel deployed on the occasion to ensure the celebrations go ahead.
The government has made arrangements to host around 5,000 to 6,000 people at the ghats, with forty jumbo LED screens installed to telecast the event live.
Volunteers supported the world record attempt at Ayodhya's 55 ghats, especially areas like New Ghat, Old Ghat, and Bhajan Scindia. In addition, the Uttar Pradesh government introduced 'Ek Daya Ram Ke Naam', a virtual initiative accessible through the Deviya Ayodhya app.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Tuesday that this year's Diwali will be historic, as the temple at the birthplace of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya will be lit up with thousands of lamps, marking the festival after a 500-year wait.
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday reiterated that the ongoing ban on fireworks in Delhi during Diwali is not a religious issue but a measure to protect public health.
In a press conference, the former Delhi chief minister emphasized that Diwali is primarily a celebration of light, noting that pollution from fireworks has long-lasting harmful effects, especially on children.