Hinduism
Indian festival of lights with over two million oil lamps
Lamps illuminate the banks of the Saryu River on the eve of the Hindu festival of Diwali in Ayodhya. photo
© Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP/dpa
The Indian city of Ayodhya celebrates the Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, with a huge sea of lights. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, is honored.
On the eve of the Hindu For the Diwali festival of lights, 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 local state of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, held a corresponding alleged confirmation of the Guinness Book of Records in pictures from the “Times of India”, among others. There was initially no independent official confirmation from Guinness. The city has already been recognized in previous years for the largest exhibition of Guinness oil lamps to date – in 2022 for almost 1.6 million pieces.
The festival of lights Diwali, which is also called Deepavali in certain regions, is one of the most important festivals in Hinduism and has a similar meaning to Christmas for many people in Germany. During the festival, families come together and decorate their houses with lots of 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.
The city of Ayodhya, where the Licher Sea was ignited, is, according to Hindu belief, the birthplace of the god Ram.