The World¡¯s largest diya has been lit in Guwahati, Assam and it indeed looks LIT. The Governor of Assam Jagdish Mukh lit the diya on the banks of Dighalipukhuri in Guwahati on the occasion of Choti Diwali. The diya has been installed with the objective to encourage people to ditch single-use plastic.?
A cement manufacturing company, Max Cement, along with the news channel ¡®TIME8¡¯ have taken this initiative, and were supported by Kamrup (M) district administration and Assam Tourism. The company also expects to enter the Limca Book of Records with this large diya.?
Shillong Times
Reportedly, the diya has a diameter of 96 inches (8 feet) and a height of 30 inches (2.5 feet) and can hold about 800 litres of oil! The Governor of Assam, Professor Jagdish Mukh, reportedly said, ¡°India is a land of festivals and one of the most popular festivals is Diwali. This festival of lights symbolises the spiritual ¡®victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.¡¯ On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, let us light a diya in the name of nature. Let us take pledge to shun single-use-plastic.¡±
Chairman of Max Cement, Praveen Agarwal, said, ¡°Today, plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues. The rapidly increasing production of disposable plastic products is affecting our environment and ecology. This campaign ¡®Ek Diya Prakirti Ke Naam¡¯, aims to contribute in mission of PM Shri Narendra Modi to ban single-use plastic from India by the year 2022.¡±
The Hills Times
The diya will be lit till October 31, so that people can pledge their support on shunning the use of single use plastic.?
People waking up to the need of banning plastic? It indeed is a happy Diwali!?