Diwali Celebrations Set Guinness World Record Amid Rising Pollution Concerns

Over 2.22 Million Lamps Lit in Uttar Pradesh as India Grapples with Hazardous Air Quality

Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, was celebrated across India with millions of people participating in various festivities.
A new Guinness World Record was set in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, where over 2.22 million earthen oil lamps were lit and kept burning for 45 minutes.
Despite the joyous celebrations, concerns about air pollution soared, with hazardous levels recorded in the days leading up to the festival.
Several measures were taken to control the pollution, including shutting down primary schools, banning polluting vehicles and construction work, and deploying water sprinklers and anti-smog guns.
The festival also marked the preparation for the inauguration of a long-awaited temple of the Hindu god Ram at the site of a demolished 16th-century Babri mosque in Ayodhya.