In the ancient city of Ayodhya, on the banks of the Saryu River, more than 26 lakh (2,617,215) oil lamps were lit during this year’s Deepotsav—making it officially the largest oil-lamp lighting event recognized by the Guinness World Records.
The festival, organized by the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department in association with the Ayodhya District Administration, drew tens of thousands of volunteers who helped arrange the lamps in precise patterns for verification.

Volunteers, Precision and Celebration

Over 30,000 volunteers from colleges, universities and various departments took part in the lighting exercise—a coordinated multi-layer effort that included the simultaneous rotation of diyas and a large-scale aarti.
The aarti ceremony itself saw more than 2,000 devotees performing the ritual together, creating a fascinating sight along the riverbanks. A Guinness adjudicator described the event as “an amazing display… it is officially a Guinness World Record.”

Tradition Meets Grand Scale

What adds to the grandeur of the moment is how tradition has been magnified into scale. The lighting of diyas is itself a traditional gesture of joy and devotion during Diwali, but here, in Ayodhya, it became a vast public ritual that fused faith, tourism, and record-making.
The ghats by the Saryu were illuminated not only with diyas but also with light shows, laser projections, and drone displays depicting mythological figures such as Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman.
The event amplified Ayodhya’s image as a sacred pilgrimage destination while also turning it into a symbol of India’s cultural unity and devotion.

Why It Matters

Cultural symbolism: Lighting diyas is central to Diwali’s ethos—banishing darkness, welcoming light. By organizing the world’s largest display, Ayodhya reasserts its spiritual and cultural leadership.

Tourism & economy: The spectacle attracts visitors, boosts local businesses, and positions Ayodhya as a global cultural destination.

Record-making as branding: Holding a Guinness record lends the city global visibility, reinforcing its place as both ancient and dynamically present.

Behind the bright lights and record-breaking numbers lies logistical complexity: arranging over 2.6 million lamps, coordinating thousands of volunteers, ensuring safety, and maintaining precision for Guinness certification. That the city succeeded signals significant organizational capability and community spirit.

With this achievement, Ayodhya has set a shining benchmark for future Diwali celebrations, locally and nationally. The challenge now lies in sustaining this spirit while evolving toward greener, more inclusive festivities.
For participants and visitors alike, the image of the Saryu ghats illuminated by millions of flickering diyas will remain etched in memory, a radiant reflection of faith, unity, and the triumph of light over darkness.