Ayodhya: Ever since Yogi Adityanath became chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2017, Diwali has not been the same in Ayodhya.
The festival of lights, or Deepotsav, has grown in grandeur and sparkle in the city of Lord Ram, with new highs being achieved every passing year.
On occasion of ‘chhoti Diwali’ on Sunday, the glittering lights of earthen lamps transformed the holy city into a river of over 26 lakh diyas, thereby creating two Guinness World Records.
At Ayodhya’s Deepotsav, organised by UP’s Tourism department and the district administration, a mind-boggling 26,17,215 diyas were lit on the Saryu river bank. Besides the highest number of diyas, a record was also set for the most number of people simultaneously performing diya rotation (aarti).
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath received the certificates for the Guinness World Records.
Visitors from across the country and foreigners from several countries assembled in the holy city to witness a spectacular fireworks display, which added to the ethereal sight of the diyas.
#WATCH | Firecrackers light up Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya as #Deepotsav2025 is being celebrated here. CM Yogi Adityanath also present.
(Source: ANI/UP Govt) pic.twitter.com/eLGnSx69js
— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2025
#WATCH | Firecrackers light up Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya as #Deepotsav2025 is being celebrated here.
(Source: ANI/UP Govt) pic.twitter.com/99zjSNl8C8
— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2025
For the record, the 2024 edition of Deepotsav had seen 25.12 lakh diyas being lit – up gradually 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 and 22.23 lakh in 2023.
