Photos: Indian city lights record number of oil lamps during Diwali

Lucknow, India: The north Indian city of Ayodhya kept its Guinness World Record for a second year on by lighting 606,569 oil lamps and keeping them burning for at least 45 minutes as part of the celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.

Thousands of volunteers lit the lamps, called diyas, along the Saryu river's banks, through lanes and at houses as dusk fell Friday in Ayodhya, where Hindus believe the god Ram was born and where he returned after 14 years in exile.

Uttar Pradesh state Governor Anandiben Patel, right, and  Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, second right, receive artists dressed  as Hindu god Ram, goddess Sita and Lakshman as they alight from a helicopter on the banks of river Saryu on the eve of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Ayodhya, India.

The city lit 409,000 oil lamps last year.

Uttar Pradesh state government spokesman Shishir Kumar said the lamps were a stunning spectacle for thousands of visitors who thronged the river banks while ignoring coronavirus social distancing norms.

Representatives from Guinness World Records handed over a certificate to Yogi Adityanath, the state's top elected official, after monitoring the ceremony with drone-mounted cameras, Kumar said.

People light lamps on the banks of river Saryu in Ayodhya, India.

Devotees light earthen lamps on the bank of Saryu River during Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya.

Devotees light earthen lamps on the bank of Saryu River during Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya.

Devotees light earthen lamps on the bank of Saryu River during Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya.

Devotees light earthen lamps on the bank of Saryu River during Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya.

Earthen lamps lit on the bank of River Saryu as part of 'Deepotsava' celebrations on the occasion of Diwali, in Ayodhya.