Munger: Kalyanpur village in Bihar's Munger district was illuminated with 11,11,111 earthen lamps on Saturday as the state hosted its largest Deepotsav, with organisers aiming to establish the celebration as the second-largest of its kind in the country after Ayodhya, Patna Press reported.

Source: Patna Press

Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inaugurated the celebrations by lighting the first diya at the premises of the Shri Shri 108 Badi Durga Maharani Temple in Kalyanpur, in the Bariarpur block of Munger district. The event was organised along the banks of the Ganga on the occasion of Chhoti Diwali, IANS reported.

A major attraction was the Ganga Maha Aarti, organised with the participation of 101 boats on the river. An elaborate fireworks display followed, and organisers had arranged around 50,000 litres of sesame oil for the lamps, while the main temple premises were decorated with special lamps made using approximately 500 kg of pure ghee, according to Patna Press.

A tradition that began with 51,000 lamps in 2019

The Kalyanpur Deepotsav has grown through years of community participation. The tradition began in 2019, when members of the Kalyanpur Youth Club lit 51,000 lamps; the number rose to around nine lakh in 2025. This year volunteers and residents worked in teams to arrange the lamps, fill them with oil and prepare the wicks, organisers said.

Newsd, reporting the same celebration, said the event was held on Chhoti Diwali along the banks of the Ganga and that organisers hope to make it the second-largest Deepotsav in the country after Ayodhya.

Source: Newsd

Marine drive work to begin within two months, says CM

During the event, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced that work on an approximately 83-km marine drive between Munger and Bhagalpur would begin within the next two months. He also referred to measures for clearing silt from the Ganga to improve its water-holding capacity and flow, and reiterated the government's target of creating government jobs and employment opportunities for one crore young people in Bihar.

Organisers said the Deepotsav represents collective participation by villagers and aims to give Kalyanpur greater recognition as a religious and cultural tourism destination.