Ayodhya sets Guinness World Records with 25 lakh diyas lit, 1,121 people performing aarti together

Deepotsav in Ayodhya sets two Guinness World Records for most people performing 'aarti' and largest oil lamp display.

Two Guinness World Records—the most people performing 'aarti' simultaneously and the largest display of oil lamps — were set at the eighth edition of Deepotsav in Ayodhya on Wednesday (October 30, 2024).

The two records were set on 55 ghats, including Ram ki Paidi, on the banks of the Saryu River in the holy city. Over 25 lakh earthen lamps (diyas) were lit together, and 1,121 'vedacharyas' (teachers of religious texts) performed 'aarti' simultaneously. The diyas were counted using drones.

Pravin Patel, the adjudicator at Guinness World Records, who visited Ayodhya with Guinness Consultant Nischal Bharot for verification, announced the new records here on Wednesday (October 30, 2024) evening.

"With a total of 1,121, U.P. Tourism, District administration of Ayodhya and Saryu Aarti Samiti, you are the Guinness World Records title holder for most people performing diya rotations simultaneously. Congratulations!" Mr. Patel declared.

On the second record, the Guinness adjudicator said, "With a total of 25,12,585, which translates into just over 25 lakh, U.P. Tourism, Government of U.P., District Administration of Ayodhya, and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, you are the new Guinness World Records title holder for the largest display of oil lamps!"

Mr. Patel said he was "absolutely delighted" to verify not one but two Guinness World Record titles — most people performing aarti simultaneously and the largest display of oil lamps.

He said that "most people performing diya rotations (aarti) simultaneously" is a brand new record. "This could not have been set up with just one diya so a minimum target of 250 was set," he said.