Overview

• Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath led temple rituals in Ayodhya, performed aarti and pulled a symbolic ‘Pushpak Vimaan’ as the 5–8 pm program targets a world record aarti with 2,100 performers.
• The attempt plans 2,611,101 lamps across Ram Ki Paidi and 56 ghats with QR-based participant tracking, 33,000 volunteers, and stewardship zones to validate the official count.
• Logistics include roughly 73,000 litres of oil and 5.5 million wicks, with the district administration citing comprehensive security, cleanliness, lighting and decoration measures.
• Political friction grew after SP chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned spending on diyas, drawing sharp rebukes from BJP leaders who urged a retraction and framed the remarks as an insult to Hindu traditions.
• Beyond Ayodhya’s preparations, Delhi held its inaugural Deepotsav lighting 1.51 lakh diyas, the President and Vice President urged eco-friendly celebrations, and the main Diwali day falls on October 20.