Ayodhya celebrated 'Deepotsav-2024' with grandeur on Wednesday as thousands of people gathered on the banks of Sarayu River to celebrate Diwali.

This is the first Deepotsav celebration since the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya in January this year. Follow LIVE updates here.

Two Guinness World Records were also set as part of the celebrations. The first prize was awarded to the most number of people performing the “Diya” rotation at the same time.

The second award went to the exhibition of 25,12,585 oil lamps given by the Department of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh and District Administration of Ayodhya. Both awards were received by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The 25 lakh diyas were placed and lit on the banks of the Saryu River, creating a breathtaking spectacle that symbolized the triumph of light over darkness and promoted a spirit of unity.

Find out more about Deepotsav in Ayodhya here

• UP CM Yogi Adityanath led the celebrations and pulled a chariot with artists depicting Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshman, symbolizing Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya.
• Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and deputy CMs Brajesh Pathak and Keshav Prasad Maurya were also present at the celebrations.
• The artists who played the roles of Lord Ram, Lakshman and Sita were showered with flowers from a helicopter.

• Adityanath also said that this is a moment to remember all those souls who dedicated their lives to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
• “I bow on this occasion to all these saints and to the martyrs,” some 3,50,000 in number, who gave their lives with a single desire when they left this world: that, at any cost, even at any cost “As a tribute to their sacrifice, a temple for Lord Ram must be built on the soil of Ayodhya,” Adityanath said.
• Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party leader and Faizabad MP Awadhesh Prasad said on Wednesday that the Ayodhya The administration didn't invite him to the Deepotsav event.
• Prasad accused the BJP government of “politicizing festivals” and said, “I greet all the residents of Ayodhya on the occasion of Diwali.” I consider it my good fortune to have been elected from here. BJP is also politicizing our festivals. I hope that this will be a celebration of brotherhood. The BJP is politicizing this festival and dividing people. I have neither received a pass nor an invitation for Deepotsav,” he told ANI.