A giant earthen lamp (diya) weighing around 200 kg and needing 500 litres of oil will be lit in Panihati, on the outskirts of Kolkata, on January 22 to mark the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Panihati Sanatan Mancha has taken this initiative to create a massive diya, which has been kept for public viewing. The lamp, which is 14 ft long, 8 ft in diameter and 4.5 f tall, has been made by artist Radharaman Pal, who is a resident of the Panihati area in North 24 Parganas district. “We have taken this initiative so that people here get a chance to celebrate the occasion in a unique way. The inauguration of Ram Temple is a historic moment for the people of the country. Therefore, we will light this massive diya on January 22 to mark the occasion,” said Joy Saha, local BJP leader while speaking to The Indian Express. Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari inaugurated the lamp on January 18. Since then it has been kept open for public viewing. The organisation also plans to distribute 50,000 earthen diyas to the people in the run-up to the event. "Every day, we distribute around 500 diyas to the people. A large number of people will assemble on January 22 to attend the event when it will be lit,” added Saha. Both the BJP and Hindu Jagran Manch have planned several rallies across the state on that day to celebrate the occasion. Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress has planned to conduct harmony rallies on the same day to spread the message of communal harmony.
