Indian festival of lights with over two million oil lamps
On the eve of the Hindu festival of lights Diwali, the Indian city of Ayodhya staged a huge sea of lights. More than 2.2 million oil lamps were lit there - a world record, as local media reported on Sunday.
The head of government of the state of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, held up a corresponding presumed confirmation from the Guinness Book of Records in pictures published by the Times of India, among others. There was initially no independent official confirmation from Guinness. The city has already been recognized by Guinness in previous years for the largest display of oil lamps to date - in 2022, for example, for almost 1.6 million pieces.
The festival of lights Diwali, also known as Deepavali in some regions, is one of the most important festivals in Hinduism and is similar in significance to Christmas for many people in Germany. During the festival, families come together and decorate their homes with many lights. They honor Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. The festival also celebrates the victory of good over evil - or the victory of light over darkness.
According to Hindu belief, the city of Ayodhya, where the sea of lights was lit, is the birthplace of the god Ram.
After breaking the previous record, the Guinness Book of Records officially announced the certification for Ayodhya's 2.2 million oil lamp display during Diwali. Despite initial concerns about confirmation, the city celebrated its fixed status as the worldwide leader in oil lamp displays for the festival.
Source: www.dpa.com
