Ayodhya, Nov 15 (UNI) More than 6.06 lakh earthen lamps lit at Ram ki Paodi in Ayodhya and over 10 lakh devotees making a beeline on the website to light virtual lamps, made the 'Deepotsav 2020' a big hit among both the online worshippers and the Ram Bhakts present on the banks of River Saryu, here.
This temple town became witness to a rare, exhilarating and a never-before experience on November 13, as a record 6.06,569 earthen lamps were lit up in Awadhpuri, the land of Ram, leaving everyone dazed and ecstatic.
Be it a faithful worshipper or a tourist, the temple town was overwhelmed by the spectacle that had Lord Ram in every bit and every moment.
Truly, these were the lamps of faith, happiness and emotions, which lit the banks of River Saryu. It seem that the waves in river Saryu were also leaping out, driven by faith and joy, chanting the name of Lord Ram.
Congratulating 'Ram Bhakts' on achieving the feat, an overwhelmed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the next year, even this record would be broken.
He said this even showed to all, how the pollution-free digital Deepawali may be celebrated, for which Ayodhya people should be especially complimented, officials here disclosed.
After a long and agonising wait of some 492 years, the Yogi Adityanath government ensured that no one was deprived of the joy of lighting up a lamp of faith in the Darbaar of Ram Lalla. On the special instructions of Mr Adityanath, the government got a portal made, where virtual lamps could be lit.
It too caught fancy of the devotees, as more than 10 lakh lamps were lit virtually.
The entire programme became an instant hit in terms of mass participation, as the Chief Minister said the involvement of people made any festival happier. The portal for virtual lighting was up on November 13 and the Ram Bhakts visited the page in large numbers, showing their faith and affection for their deity.
The devotees had the option to choose the 'lamps' to be lit, the oil or ghee to be used and they got a certificate in return and big thanks from none other than the Chief Minister himself.
The downloading of the certificate also showed the quotients of success of the whole event, which was to be done, keeping in mind the COVID protection protocol.
UNI MB RJ 1923