In Ayodhya, the eve of Diwali saw an extraordinary display of devotion and culture during the city’s annual Deepotsav. A staggering 26 12 585+ earthen lamps were lit along 56 ghats of the Saryu River — forming a veritable “river of lights”. In Ayodhya, the eve of Diwali saw an extraordinary display of devotion and culture during the city’s annual Deepotsav. A staggering 26 12 585+ earthen lamps were lit along 56 ghats of the Saryu River — forming a veritable “river of lights”.

The preparation was monumental. Over 33 000 volunteers, most from local colleges, lined up to place the diyas ahead of the lighting, using 55 lakh cotton wicks and 73 000 litres of oil to ensure every lamp burned. The counting system was verified using QR-codes and overseen by adjudicators from Guinness World Records, confirming that two world-records were achieved: the largest display of oil lamps and the most people performing a digital aarti simultaneously. 

Beyond the numbers, the spectacle combined tradition with modernity — drone-shows depicted scenes from the Ramayana, laser lights adorned the ghats, and for the first time more ghat-areas were included than ever. The festival underscores Ayodhya’s evolving identity as not just a religious destination but a global cultural hub — where faith, light and community converge in shared celebration.