The temple town of Ayodhya resembled a sky full of stars and created history on Sunday. The holy city in Uttar Pradesh created two new Guinness World Records: 26.17 lakh diyas lit at one place and 2,128 people performed ‘aarti’ together
Grand Diwali celebrations were held on the banks of the River Saryu in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya as part of Deepotsav. ANI
What do 26.17 lakh lit diyas look like?
What do 2,128 people performing ‘aarti’ together look like?
This is what Ayodhya, the holy temple city in Uttar Pradesh looked like on Sunday evening on the auspicious day of Diwali as people from all over gathered to light the lakhs of diyas (lamps) and perform prayers together.
And this amazing spectacle to watch once again shattered records with representatives from the Guinness World Records verifying the count of the diyas using drones and made the announcement.
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Devotees carry lamps as they pray on the banks of the Saryu river during Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya, India. APA total of over 25 lakh devotees participated in the Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya, turning the temple town into a glittering spectacle. APThousands of volunteers participated in the event bathing the holy city in a river of over 26 lakh diyas and registering two Guinness World Records in the process on the occasion of chhoti Diwali on Sunday. AP
The festivities at the Saryu River began at 5 pm and continued until 8 pm, bathing the entire city in Diwali lights. According to Guinness officials, two records were established on Sunday (October 19) – the lighting of 26,17,215 diyas along with the record for the most people simultaneously performing diya rotation.
And to achieve this, was no easy feat. It took over 32,000 volunteers from Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University and local organisations to make it possible.
An aerial view of people gathering at Ram Ki Paidi in Ayodhya. Image Courtesy: @uptourismgov/XAbout 2.61 million oil lamps are lit along the Saryu river during Deepotsav celebrations, creating a new Guinness World Record, in Ayodhya. AP
The spectacle was led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, his saffron turban glowing in the lamp-lit night. APTableaux of scenes from the Hindu epic Ramayana are displayed during Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya. AP
The UP government has, over successive years, made and broken its own records in orchestrating the largest displays of diyas in a single location. In 2023 and 2024, more than 2.2 million and 2.5 million lamps lit up the Saryu banks, respectively.
The 2025 celebrations also featured a laser show, music, and cultural performances by national and international troupes, alongside colourful tableaux depicting iconic episodes from the revered Ramayan. A Saryu maha aarti unfolded against the river’s glowing banks, with Vedic scholars chanting hymns that mingled with the shimmering lamps.
Artistes from five countries performed the Ramlila in Ayodhya. ANIFireworks along the banks of the Saryu River in Ayodhya as part of the grand Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya on Sunday. ANIThe drone show along the banks of the Saryu River in Ayodhya. ANIUttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath holds up the certificates from the Guinness World Records after the Diwali aarti. Image Courtesy: @myogiadityanath/X
 "Grand Diwali celebrations were held on the banks of the River Saryu in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya as part of Deepotsav. ANI")