Rourkela: This city is gearing up to celebrate the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya hugely. The world’s largest ‘diya’ (lamp) is being made in Rourkela. It will be lighted January 22 evening in this city. “The previous record for the biggest diya (lamp) was 3.3 metres. We have ordered a lamp measuring over 12 feet in circumference at the top and over 5.5 feet in height,” said Santosh Kumar Biswal of ‘Smile Foundation’. “We have contacted the publishers of ‘Guinness World Records’ to verify the earlier record and we are on the way to break it,” added Santosh. Jayram Pandit alias Prajapati of Tilak Nagar and five of his associates have been entrusted with the responsibility of building the diya. “I have been making idols for the last 50 years. When this offer came to us 15 days back, we accepted the challenge. My son Sambhu and my main craftsman Babul Pal is helping me out on this job,” informed Jayram. The lamp is being constructed using 500 kilograms of clay, 100kg of hay, 50 bamboos and two sacks of putty. “Fifty per cent of the job has already been done and we will hand over the diya to the customers by January 17,” informed Jayram. Santosh meanwhile said that they have also ordered a statue of Lord Ram which will be 12 feet in height. “We will take the statue and diya to different parts of Rourkela January 19 onwards. On the evening of January 22, the lamp will be lighted. It will be an awesome sight,” he informed. The lamp will have the capacity to store 6,000 litres of ghee and a 15- foot wick will be attached to it for lighting.
However, both Jayram and his daughter-in-law Nitu Pandit refused to disclose the cost involved in making the world’s largest ‘diya’. “Please do not ask about the cost,” Nitu said. Santosh is trying his best to celebrate the occasion with glam and glitz. Invitations to attend the programme January 22nd have been sent to renowned actors Govinda and Rajpal Yadav and former captain, of the Indian cricket team MS Dhoni. “We are waiting to get confirmations from them,” Santosh said.
