Ayodhya lit 26.17 lakh earthen lamps along the Saryu ghats to set a Guinness World Record ahead of Diwali 2025, turning the holy city into a sea of light and devotion verified by on-ground stewards and drone counts. The celebration also created a second record for a mass aarti, underscoring Deepotsav’s scale as a modern cultural phenomenon rooted in timeless faith.
The record, in numbers
Organisers confirmed 26,17,215 Diya’s were illuminated in a single display, certified on site by Guinness World Records representatives using a structured verification protocol and aerial assessment. The largest Saryu aarti featured 2,128 participants performing together, earning a parallel entry as officials announced the achievement to roaring crowds. These twin records mark Deepotsav’s most ambitious edition yet and place Ayodhya firmly on the global festival map ahead of Diwali.
How the feat was verified
Guinness adjudicators oversaw the attempt with meticulous procedures that included drone surveillance, grid-based diya placement, and steward-managed counting, followed by formal certification presented to dignitaries on stage. Officials emphasised that precision in layout and documentation was essential to validate each lamp within the official tally, reflecting a blend of faith, technology, and civic coordination.
A spectacle on the Saryu
Over the evening window, the ghats shimmered under a choreographed canvas of flame as a light-and-sound program, fireworks, and a grand aarti turned Ram Ki Paidi into a living tableau of the Ramayana. Visuals from the riverfront showed continuous waves of lamp-light stretching across the embankments, punctuated by devotional chants and thematic performances. A drone show with 1,100 synchronized drones drew gasps, sketching icons from the epic in the sky above the illuminated cityscape.
People power and logistics
The diya grid was executed by over 30,000 volunteers from universities, colleges, and local departments, who worked in teams to place, light, and maintain the lamps through the record window. Organisers provisioned approximately 73,000 litres of oil and 55 lakh cotton wicks to sustain the display, underscoring the scale and planning behind the ritual artistry. Crowd, safety, and sanitation teams operated in concert with the program schedule to keep the riverfront flowing and accessible during peak moments.
Rituals and leadership
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath participated in the aarti and ceremonial proceedings at Ram Ki Paidi while engaging with saints and mahants, a presence that has become a Deepotsav hallmark in recent years. Certificates for the Guinness records were received at the venue, highlighting official recognition for both the lamp display and the mass aarti performance. Devotees from across India and abroad joined the rituals, adding a powerful communal dimension to the citywide celebration.
Growth since 2017
Deepotsav has scaled dramatically from 1.71 lakh diyas in 2017 to 26.17 lakh in 2025, reflecting a steady expansion in ambition, participation, and technical rigour. Previous milestones in 2022 surpassed 15.76 lakh diyas, setting a trajectory that culminated in this year’s record-breaking display verified under tighter protocols. The sustained growth indicates a purposeful effort to blend heritage with world-class event management in a way that resonates with a national and global audience.
Beyond Ayodhya: wider illumination
While Ayodhya hosted the flagship record, millions of additional lamps lit up homes and public spaces across Uttar Pradesh, knitting local celebrations into a larger tapestry of light during the festive window. Media coverage noted thousands of devotees converging on Ayodhya even as parallel programs and illuminations unfolded statewide, reinforcing the festival’s interconnected character. The convergence of local devotion and state-level coordination amplified the festival’s impact well beyond the riverfront.
Cultural resonance and legacy
Deepotsav 2025 showcased a union of devotion, design, and discipline, with the river of lamps symbolising a collective offering as much as a record-setting feat. Organised by the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department and Ayodhya District Administration, the event projected the city’s spiritual heritage through world-class staging and verification, positioning Ayodhya as a beacon for cultural tourism. As the flames flickered in unison, the message was clear: tradition can scale without losing its soul, and faith can shine brighter when the community lights it together. Ayodhya’s 26.17 lakh diyas did more than shatter a world record they illuminated a living heritage with precision and grace, setting a luminous standard for festive celebrations in the years to come.
