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Ayodhya, Oct 20 (IANS) In a dazzling display of devotion and national pride, the holy city of Ayodhya celebrated this Diwali with a record-breaking Deepotsav celebration that illuminated the ghats of the Saryu river and rejuvenated the political atmosphere across the region.
The city etched its name in the annals of history by setting two Guinness World Records – 26.17 lakh earthen lamps illuminated the river banks while 2,128 devotees performed aarti simultaneously, creating a spectacle of spiritual fervor and visual grandeur.
The Guinness World Records Certificate was formally awarded, underscoring the growing stature of Ayodhya on the global spiritual map. Speaking to IANS, Cabinet Minister Anil Rajbhar described this achievement as a proud symbol of India’s cultural heritage and spiritual unity.
He commented, “The entire country has embraced this festival.” “Deepotsav has acquired a new dimension. The government is keeping pace with the pulse of the people. Records are being created one after the other. The scene of our revered saints participating in the aarti was truly spectacular. This Diwali has taken a new color and the nation is celebrating,” he told IANS.
When asked about Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s sharp remark that the opposition “respects Babar but ignores Lord Ram,” Rajbhar was candid. “Tell me, had any government before 2017 taken the sanctity of Ayodhya so seriously? Previous chief ministers had avoided visiting Ayodhya for fear of alienating certain communities. We cannot expect much from such people. This government is out of tune with the sentiments of the people of Ayodhya.”
Responding to Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav’s criticism of Deepotsav, Rajbhar dismissed it as the product of a “foreign mentality”, and said, “He should focus on his party and the upcoming elections in Bihar. The Bharatiya Janata Party has nothing to learn from him.”
He said, “Ayodhya has once again demonstrated to the world the enduring power of faith and tradition. This Diwali is more than a celebration – it is a message of peace and cultural continuity.”
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who presided over the grand event, used the occasion to sharply criticize his political opponents. “They respect Babur and ignore Ram,” he declared, drawing a stark contrast between the cultural renaissance of his administration and the historical indifference of rival parties.
His remarks were met with thunderous applause from the gathered crowd, many of whom saw the event as an affirmation of Ayodhya’s spiritual heritage.
Nevertheless, the political sphere was not without criticism. Akhilesh Yadav took a dig at the BJP over Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s name apparently missing from the government’s Diwali advertisements.
“This time, Deputy CM out,” he quipped, hinting at a possible rift within the ruling dispensation and raising questions over the chances of a boycott. Amidst the political tussle, the Festival of Lights in itself remained an astonishing sight.
Synchronized aarti, flickering lights of lamps and resonating mantras echoing in the air transformed the ghats into a tableau of divine celebration.
–IANS
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