Ayodhya will host its first Diwali on Wednesday since the dedication of the Ram Temple this January, with preparations being made for a celebration unlike any in years past.
The government aims to break last year’s Guinness world record by lighting 25 lakh diyas on the banks of Saryu river.
A team of 30, led by Guinness World Records consultant Nischal Barot, has already started counting diyas using drones at 55 ghats.
The authorities ordered 28 lakh diyas to local artisans to ensure they reach their target, including possible losses based on experience.
To ensure public safety, almost all security personnel have been deployed throughout the city, with half of them in plain clothes.
The special arrangement includes 80,000 diyas arranged in a swastika pattern at ghat no. 10, the symbol of pleasure and the central attraction of the event.
Deepotsav Nodal Officer Sant Sharan Mishra confirmed that preparations have been completed, with accommodation for 5,000 to 6,000 visitors at the ghats.
Forty jumbo LED screens will broadcast the live broadcast to those who cannot attend. The slides are scheduled to be lit at a fixed time in the evening.
The festival will feature cultural performances from artists representing six countries—Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Indonesia—and a presentation of Ram Leela from Uttarakhand.
In an eco-friendly initiative, the Wildlife Department will light 150,000 ‘Gau Deep’, an initiative presented to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Special lamps designed to reduce soot and pollution will be used in the Ram temple to protect its structure.
More than 30,000 volunteers are expected to help decorate the ghats, which will be decorated with flowers and lamps, conveying the message of environmental awareness.
The state information department has organized a live broadcast of the event, with LED walls and vans placed across Ayodhya to ensure visibility.
Security measures include the closure of 17 lanes leading to Ram Ki Paidi, allowing access to passers-by only.
Anil Mishra, trustee of the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, highlighted the elaborate arrangement of lighting all parts of the temple complex. To maintain cleanliness, wax lamps will be used outside the main building.
Senior Superintendent of Police Rajkaran Nair held meetings to discuss security arrangements, including deployment of ATS, STF, and CRPF commandos to protect the temple and its surroundings.
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