Grand Diwali celebrations: Ayodhya readying for record glow

A rehearsal of the grand Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya, where the authorities plan to set a world record by lighting 171,000 earthen lamps on the banks of the Saryu river on October 18, is scheduled on Monday and Tuesday.

Disclosing this, Ashish Mishra, who is coordinating the programme on behalf of Avadh University, told HT the university will deploy over 2,000 volunteers to meet the target.

Representatives of Guinness Book of World Records reached Ayodhya on Sunday and inspected the site where the earthen lamps will be lit.

The state tourism department in association with the Avadh University (Faizabad) and the district administration are aiming to set the new world record.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath and other dignitaries will be in Ayodhya to witness the celebrations on October 18, the Diwali eve.

Mishra said the administration had ordered 200,000 earthen lamps from the potters.

The small-scale pottery industry surrounding the temple town has got a new lease of life for now because of the state government’s plans. The potters are working day and night to churn out diyas (earthen lamps) before October 16, the deadline to deliver 200,000 earthen lamps to the organisers of the Ayodhya Divya Deepotsav programme.

A potter from the Vidyakund area on the outskirts of Ayodhya said all of them were hopeful of better earnings this Diwali due to the Deepotsav programme in the temple town.

He said the administration had ordered medium-sized diyas, each costing Rs 1.50-Rs 2.

Shiv Ram, another potter from Halkara-Ka-Purva, agreed that the earthen oil lamps were in great demand this Diwali.

He said perhaps the Deepotsav scheduled at Ayodhya was inspiring the residents to think of lighting oil lamps this year.

Another potter Ram Kishore from Jaisimhpur said he sold about 10,000 diyas during Diwali in previous years but he was making more than 30,000 diyas this time.

Ashish Mishra said 50 ml oil was required to light one lamp. One litre was enough for 18-20 lamps. He also said the administration was directed to arrange 10,000 litres of oil for the event at the Saryu Ghat.