National Desk: The spiritual city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh witnessed a breathtaking spectacle on Sunday, setting two world records during the grand Deepotsav celebrations. A total of 26,17,215 earthen lamps (diyas) were lit simultaneously along the banks of the Saryu River, and 2,128 people performed the Saryu Aarti together — both feats officially recognized as Guinness World Records.
According to a statement issued by the state government, representatives from the Guinness Book of World Records confirmed the record after counting the lamps using drone footage and made the official announcement shortly after.
During the ceremony, Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh and Principal Secretary (Tourism & Culture) Amrit Abhijat presented the Guinness Certificates to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in honor of these historic achievements.
The first Guinness Award was given to the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department, the Ayodhya District Administration, and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University for lighting the largest number of oil lamps at a single event. The second Guinness Award was presented to the Tourism Department, Ayodhya District Administration, and the Saryu Aarti Committee for organizing the largest group Aarti with 2,128 participants.
The statement also highlighted the remarkable growth of the Deepotsav celebration since 2017, when the Yogi Adityanath government first came to power. That year, only 1.71 lakh diyas were lit along the ghats of the Saryu River. The number has grown steadily every year — 3.01 lakh in 2018, 4.04 lakh in 2019, 6.06 lakh in 2020, 9.41 lakh in 2021, 15.76 lakh in 2022, 22.23 lakh in 2023, and now a record-breaking 26.17 lakh in 2024.
Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said, “Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deepotsav has evolved from a festival of lights to a festival of pride and identity. Today, the world sees Ayodhya as the living embodiment of Ram Rajya — where faith, discipline, and development shine together.”
He added, “Every diya lit here reflects the spirit of a developed Uttar Pradesh and a developed India.”
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