26.17 Lakh Diyas, Record Aarti Gathering: Ayodhya Sets Two Guinness World Records on Chhoti Diwali

Ayodhya created history on Sunday, setting two new Guinness World Records during the grand Deepotsav 2025 celebrations. A record 26,17,215 earthen diyas illuminated the holy city, while 2,128 devotees performed ‘aarti’ together along the banks of the Saryu River.

Officials from the Guinness World Records verified the count of lit diyas using drones and later presented the certificates to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, handed over by Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh and Principal Secretary Amrit Abhijat.

The breathtaking display — the largest ever of its kind — was jointly organized by the UP Tourism Department, the Ayodhya administration, and Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University.

Grand Procession Marks the Celebration

Earlier in the day, a grand procession featuring 22 tableaux was taken out along Rampath to mark Deepotsav and Chhoti Diwali. Hundreds of devotees lined the streets chanting “Jai Shri Ram” as the floats depicted key episodes from the Ramayana, covering all seven chapters — Balakanda, Ayodhyakanda, Aranyakanda, Kishkindhakanda, Sundarkanda, Lankakanda, and Uttarakanda.

The procession was jointly organized by the Information Department, the Ayodhya Development Authority, and the Tourism and Culture Department.

CM Yogi Performs Aarti at Saryu River

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also performed aarti at the Saryu River as part of the celebrations. Sharing photos on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote:

“On the sacred occasion of the divine and grand Deepotsav-2025, today I had the good fortune to perform the aarti of Mother Saryu at Dharmadhara Shri Ayodhya Dham. May Mother Saryu pave the way for happiness, peace, prosperity, and welfare in the lives of all people — this is my prayer. Jai Maa Saryu!”