Ayodhya sets two new world records at Deepotsav 2025
AYODHYA (UP): The temple town of Ayodhya set two new world records during this year’s grand Deepotsav celebrations — lighting 26.17 lakh diyas at one location and having 2,128 people perform ‘aarti’ together, the Uttar Pradesh government announced.
Officials from Guinness World Records confirmed both records after verifying the diya count using drones. UP Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh and Principal Secretary Amrit Abhijat presented the Guinness certificates to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The first record recognized the largest display of oil lamps (26,17,215), jointly achieved by the UP Department of Tourism, Ayodhya administration, and Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University. The second award was for the most people performing ‘aarti’ simultaneously, achieved by the tourism department, district administration, and Saryu Aarti Samiti.
The number of diyas lit each year has steadily increased since 2017 — from 1.71 lakh in 2017, 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, to 25.12 lakh in 2024.
Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh said, “Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deepotsav has evolved from a festival of light into a festival of pride and identity. The world now views Ayodhya as the living symbol of Ram Rajya, where faith, discipline, and development shine together.”
“Each diya lit here reflects the spirit of a Viksit Uttar Pradesh and a Viksit Bharat,” he added.
