[The 300,150 oil lamps broke a Guinness world record when they burned simultaneously for more than five minutes and provided a stunning spectacle for thousands of city residents and visitors who took part in the lighting. The flickering lamps cast a glow on the Sarayu River, considered sacred in the Hindu religion.]
By
Megan Specia
 |
|
Devotees
light lamps on the banks of the Sarayu River as part of Diwali festival
on
Tuesday. Credit Rajesh Kumar Singh/Associated Press
|
Hundreds of thousands of oil lamps
illuminated the northern Indian city of Ayodhya as part of the festival of
Diwali, casting a glowing light over the city on Tuesday.
But the lamps did not just set the scene for
the annual five-day celebration, also known as the festival of light,
celebrated by millions in India and around the world. They also set a world
record, according to officials.
The 300,150 oil lamps broke a Guinness world
record when they burned simultaneously for more than five minutes and provided
a stunning spectacle for thousands of city residents and visitors who took part
in the lighting. The flickering lamps cast a glow on the Sarayu River,
considered sacred in the Hindu religion.
It took thousands of volunteers to light the
lamps, called diyas, which were placed alongside the river, on steps and in
city squares.
The government of the state of Uttar Pradesh
affirmed that the lamps set a record, as did the state’s tourism office, which
was instrumental in organizing the spectacle. Representatives from the Guinness
World Records handed local officials a plaque after determining the number of lamps
by flying a drone over the city.
The city also attempted to break the record
for the number of lamps displayed last year, but strong winds extinguished many
of the lights.
Diwali is observed by members of the Hindu,
Sikh and Jain faiths and coincides with the Hindu New Year. The festival is a
celebration of new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil. The date
changes each year and is typically held between October and November, depending
on when it falls on the Hindu calendar.
The city of Ayodhya is considered holy by
Hindus as they believe the god Ram was born there and returned to the city
after 14 years in exile.
Tuesday’s Diwali celebrations also included
an appearance by Kim Jung-sook, the wife of President Moon Jae-in of South
Korea. Ms. Kim attended the festival in Ayodhya after meeting with Prime
Minister Narendra Modi during a four-day visit to India.
Her presence was symbolic as Koreans have a
special connection to the city. Legend tells of a princess from Ayodhya who
traveled to Korea 2,000 years ago, eventually marrying a local king and
becoming queen.
But while Diwali is seen as a celebration of
light and rebirth, it has also been a cause for concern in recent years, as air
pollution from lamps and fireworks lit as part of the celebrations exacerbates
already poor air quality in some of the country’s major cities.
The city of Delhi on Wednesday reported air
quality ranging from “poor” to “very poor,” according to the country’s Central
Pollution Control Board.
Images of a thick smog hanging low over the
city were in stark contrast to the scenes of lights glimmering in Ayodhya,
about 400 miles southeast of Delhi.
The direction of winds and the burning of
brush in the vicinity of Delhi contributed to the problem, according to the
Times of India, and fireworks and lamps could make the situation worse.
Megan Specia is a story editor on the
International Desk, specializing in digital storytelling and breaking news.
@meganspecia
