25 lakhs will be lit in Ayodhya with the aim of entering the Guinness Book of Records on the first Diwali after the opening of the Ram Temple

Ayodhya will mark its first Diwali this Wednesday since the dedication of the Ram Temple in January this year, and preparations are underway for a celebration unlike any seen in previous years.

The government is set to break last year’s Guinness World Record by lighting 25 lakh diyas on the banks of the Saryu River.

A 30-member team led by Guinness World Records consultant Nischal Barot has already started counting diyas using drones across 55 ghats.

Officials have ordered 28 lakh diyas from local artisans to ensure they achieve their target, taking into account potential losses based on experience.

To ensure public safety, approximately 10,000 security personnel are stationed throughout the city, half of them in plain clothes.

The special event includes 80,000 diyas arranged in the shape of a swastika at ghat no. 10, a symbol of auspiciousness and the central attraction of the event.

Deepotsav Nodal Officer Sant Sharan Mishra confirmed that preparations have been completed and 5,000 to 6,000 guests will be accommodated at the ghats.

Forty huge LED screens will provide live coverage for those unable to attend. The diya is scheduled to be lit at a designated time in the evening.

The festival will feature cultural performances by artists representing six countries – Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and Indonesia, as well as a performance by Ram Leela from Uttarakhand.

As part of an eco-friendly initiative, the Animal Husbandry Department will light 150,000 Gau Deep bulbs, a gesture gifted to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The Ram temple will use special lamps designed to minimize soot and pollution.

More than 30,000 volunteers are expected to help decorate the ghats, which will be decorated with flowers and lights, conveying a message of environmental awareness.

The State Information Department organized a live telecast of the event with LED walls and vans placed throughout Ayodhya to ensure visibility.

Security measures include the closure of 17 routes leading to Ram Ki Paidi, allowing access only to pass holders.

Anil Mishra, Trustee of the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, spoke about the detailed planning for illumination of every part of the temple complex. Wax lamps will be used to keep the outside of the main building clean.

Senior Superintendent of Police Rajkaran Nair held meetings to discuss security arrangements including deployment of ATS, STF and CRPF commandos to ensure security of the temple and surrounding areas.