More than 300 thousand clay oil lamps were lighted in this years' Diwali, the festival of light, in the holy city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh located in the northern part of India. The success of the event didn't just the showcase the beautiful Indian culture that left everyone amazed, but it has also helped the city break a prestigious Guinness World Record, the government of the state of Uttar Pradesh affirms.
According to The New York Times, the event took part in Sarayu River, one of the Hindu's most sacred places. The oil lamps, which they called 'diyas,' were lighted simultaneously for five minutes straight. These lamps are placed throughout the holy place: on the steps, city squares, and even alongside the river banks.
The city also tried to set another record for the most number of lamps lighted at the same time, but wasn't able to break it since the wind of this year's celebration is quite strong that it extinguished some of the flames.
Thousands of visitors and residents participated in the festival, which represents "victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil." But among these people, there is but one man who is responsible for managing the entire event-Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Local officials received a plaque for their achievement after the Guinness World Records was able to determine the number of oil lamps lighted for the festival. This was after the event surpassed the previous title of about more than 150 thousand lamps lighted in Haryana last September 23, 2016. To confirm the number of lighted lamps, the world's authority on record-breaking achievements set a flying drone to watch over the city.
Rishi Nath the official adjudicator of the Guinness World Records was also left in awe referring to the spectacular event as incredibly "phenomenal," as posted by Financial Express,
Aside from some representatives of the Guinness World, South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook was also able to witness the visual treat. Jung-sook was in the event as part of her four-day visit to India.
This special bond between Korea and India can be linked to a Korean legend about a princess from of Ayodhya, who traveled for days to Korea and fell in love with a King. Rumor has it that it was in 48 CE that this King and the princess married each other.
