Millions of Indians set a new world record celebrating Diwali
Fireworks light the sky as lamps are light up the banks of the river Saryu on the eve of the Hindu festival of Diwali, in Ayodhya, India.
Millions of Indians celebrated Diwali on Sunday with a new Guinness World Record number of bright earthen oil lamps. Across the country, dazzling multi-colored lights decked homes and streets as devotees celebrated the annual Hindu festival of light symbolizing the victory of light over darkness. But the spectacular and much-awaited massive lighting of the oil lamps took place – as usual-at Saryu River, in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state, the birthplace of their most revered Ram, an avatar of Vishnu the Preserver.
At dusk on Saturday, devotees lit over 2.22 million lamps and kept them burning for 45 minutes as Hindu religious hymns filled the air at the banks of the river, setting a new world Record. Last year, over 1.5 million earthen lamps were lit.
After counting the lamps, Guinness Book of World Records representatives presented a record certificate to the state’s Chief Minister.Over 24,000 volunteers, mostly college students, helped prepare for the new record, said Pratibha Goyal, vice-chancellor of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, in Ayodhya.
Diwali, a national holiday across India, is celebrated by socializing and exchanging gifts with family and friends. Many light earthen oil lamps or candles, and fireworks are set off as part of the celebrations. In the evening, a special prayer is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, who is believed to bring luck and prosperity.
Over the weekend, authorities ran extra trains to accommodate the huge numbers trying to reach their hometowns to join family celebrations.
However an Associated Press news has shown concerns about air pollution that soared in this South Asian country!!!
As per them the festival came as worries about air quality in India rose. A “hazardous” 400-500 level was recorded on the air quality index last week, more than 10 times the global safety threshold, which can cause acute and chronic bronchitis and asthma attacks. But on Saturday, unexpected rain and a strong wind improved the levels to 220, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.
Air pollution level is expected to soar again after the celebrations end Sunday night because of the fireworks used, says AP. Well firstly, we have not come across such criticism of ” fireworks “ when USA celebrates 4th of July, Europeans celebrate their various festivals, Christian World celebrates Christmas by burning millions of candles all over and most celebrate New Year.
Last week, officials in New Delhi shut down primary schools and banned polluting vehicles and construction work in an attempt to reduce the worst haze and smog of the season, which has posed respiratory problems for people and enveloped monuments and high-rise buildings in and around India’s capital.
AP should know that the pollution is due to “ politics “ over burning of paddy roots in Punjab.
Delhi Authorities deployed water sprinklers and anti-smog guns to control the haze and many people used masks to escape the air pollution.
New Delhi tops the list almost every year among the many Indian cities with poor air quality, particularly in the winter, when the burning of crop residues in neighbouring states coincides with cooler temperatures that trap deadly smoke.
Some Indian states have banned the sale of fireworks and imposed other restrictions to stem the pollution. Authorities have also urged residents to light “green crackers” that emit less pollutants than normal firecrackers. But similar bans have often been disregarded in the past.
The Diwali celebrations this year were marked as authorities prepared to inaugurate in January an under-construction and long-awaited temple of Lord Ram at the site of 16th-century Babri mosque which had been built forcibly after demolishing the original temple, in Ayodhya city in Uttar Pradesh state.
The Babri Masjid mosque was itself demolished by a mob with pickaxes and crowbars in December 1992, sparking massive Hindu-Muslim violence that left some 2,000 people dead. The Supreme Court’s verdict in 2019 allowed a temple to be built in place of the demolished mosque.
