Diwali Celebrations in India Set Guinness Record Amid Rising Air Pollution Concerns

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In a record-setting celebration, millions of Indians observed Diwali on Sunday, illuminating the night with a record number of traditional earthen oil lamps, even as air pollution worries intensified in the nation.

Throughout India, homes and streets sparkled with vibrant lights, as people gathered to honor the Hindu festival of lights, which signifies the triumph of light over darkness.

The highlight of the event was the grand lighting of oil lamps along the Saryu River in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, believed to be the birthplace of the revered Hindu deity, Lord Ram.

On Saturday evening, a staggering 2.22 million lamps were lit and maintained for 45 minutes at the river’s edge, accompanied by Hindu chants, breaking the previous year’s record of over 1.5 million lamps.

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Guinness World Records officials validated the record and presented a certificate to Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

The effort was supported by over 24,000 volunteers, predominantly university students, as per Pratibha Goyal, vice-chancellor of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, Ayodhya.

Diwali, a national holiday in India, involves social gatherings, gift exchanges, lighting of lamps or candles, and fireworks. A special evening prayer is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, associated with fortune and prosperity.

The river Saryu’s banks were illuminated on Diwali’s eve in Ayodhya, captured in a photograph by Rajesh Kumar Singh (AP Photo).

Extra trains were operational over the weekend to manage the surge of people traveling to their hometowns for the festivities.

The festival occurred amidst escalating concerns over air quality in India. The air quality index recently hit a “hazardous” level of 400-500, far exceeding the global safety standard, capable of causing severe respiratory ailments. However, air quality improved to a level of 220 on Saturday due to unexpected rainfall and strong winds, as reported by the Central Pollution Control Board.

Post-celebration, air pollution is anticipated to rise again due to the fireworks.

In response to severe smog in New Delhi, primary schools were closed, and restrictions were placed on vehicles and construction activities. The city frequently experiences poor air quality, particularly in winter, exacerbated by crop burning in neighboring regions.

Authorities used water sprinklers and anti-smog guns to mitigate haze, and many people resorted to masks for protection.

Despite bans on firecrackers in some states and appeals to use eco-friendlier “green crackers,” compliance has been limited.

This year’s Diwali holds significance as it precedes the inauguration of a much-awaited temple dedicated to Lord Ram in Ayodhya, at the site of the demolished 16th-century Babri Masjid. The mosque’s destruction in 1992 by a Hindu mob led to widespread Hindu-Muslim violence. The Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict paved the way for the temple’s construction at the mosque’s former location.

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More about Diwali Celebrations India

• Diwali Festival Overview
• Guinness World Records Diwali Celebrations
• Air Pollution in India
• Ayodhya Ram Temple History