Ahead of the January 22 consecration of Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya, the buzz around the temple town refuses to fade away!
Adding another element to the gradual elevation of Ayodhya as a future global spiritual and religious tourism hub, the Uttar Pradesh government is working towards transforming the once non-descript town into a solar city.
The state is setting up the world’s largest ‘solar powered streetlights line’ in Ayodhya featuring 470 solar streetlights over an area of more than 10.
It will earn Ayodhya an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records. The feat will break the record currently registered in the name of Malham, Saudi Arabia, where 468 solar-powered lights were installed over a stretch of 9.7 km in 2021.
UP New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has already completed 70 percent of the solar streetlights work, and remaining work will be completed before January 22.
In November 2023, Ayodhya had made a similar world record of lighting 2.2 million diyas (earthen lamps) during Deepotsav (festival of lights).
The number of diyas lighted during Deepotsav has been going up every year. In 2020 and 2021, 0.6 million and 0.9 million diyas were lighted respectively.
In 2022, more than 1.5 million diyas were lit up across the banks of river Saryu, which was recognised by the Guinness Book officials.