Indians celebrate Diwali by lighting a record number of clay lamps

LUCKNOW, India (AP) – Millions of Indians began celebrating the annual Hindu festival of lights, diwali, by symbolically lighting a record 2.51 million clay oil lamps at dusk on Wednesday on the banks of the Saryu River in a north Indian town they believe is the birthplace of the deity Lord Ram.

Diwali is the most important festival of the year in Indiaespecially for the Hindu majority. It is celebrated by socializing and exchanging gifts with loved ones. Many light candles and oil lamps made of clay. Fireworks are set off. In the evening, a special prayer is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, who is believed to bring good luck and prosperity.

A Guinness World Records team presented a certificate to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recognizing the unprecedented number of oil lamps, surpassing last year’s 2.2 million. Drone cameras closely monitored the event.

The celebration took place in the northern city of Ayodhya, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi nine months ago opened a controversial Hindu temple built on the ruins of a historic mosque following a Supreme Court decision, seen as a political victory for the populist leader. The establishment of the temple dedicated to Lord Ram fulfilled a long-standing demand of millions of Hindus.

On Wednesday, thousands of volunteers lit lamps, called “diyas”, along riverbanks, lanes, frontages and rooftops.

“More than 30,000 volunteers, primarily university students, worked diligently to maintain the systematic pattern of burning lamps for the prescribed time,” said Dr. Pratibha Goyal, Vice-Chancellor of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, who coordinated the massive effort.

The lamps lit along 55 steps by the river river Saryu created a captivating display along 1.5 kilometers (one mile). As the lamps remained lit for over five minutes, government spokesman Shishir Singh said Ayodhya achieved its seventh consecutive world record for the largest display.

Singh said about 91,000 liters (about 24,000 gallons) of mustard oil were used to light the lamps.

The event transformed Ayodhya into a city of light amidst devotional bhajan singing. A laser show depicting scenes from the epic Ramayana added to the experience and an eco-friendly firework display lit up the skyline. Traditional decorations, including elaborate arches and grand gateways along the main roads, captured the festive atmosphere as folk cultural performances drew pilgrims to the streets.

The festival also featured a prayer ceremony performed by 1,100 priests along the river banks.

Security was tightened across the city. Paramilitary commandos, bomb detectors, dog teams, facial recognition technology and real-time surveillance drones were deployed, police officer Rajkaran Nayyar said.

Major Hindu festivals such as Dussehra and Diwali are associated with mythological tales of Lord Ram extolling the virtues of truth, sacrifice and ethical governance.

The main celebrations of Diwali are held across the country on Thursday.