AYODHYA, Oct. 20 -- Two new world records were set at the ninth edition of the Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya on Sunday as 26.17 lakh diyas were lit at 56 ghats on banks of the Saryu, including the majestic Ram Ki Paidi, and 2,128 people performed 'aarti' together for the grand festivities. Sunday's achievement surpassed the 2024 record of 25,12,585 diyas set at the eighth Deepotsav where 1151 people had performed the aarti. Representatives from the Guinness Book of World Records made the announcement after verifying the count of the diyas using drones, the state government said in a statement. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath lit the first lamp at the Ram Janmabhoomi complex on Sunday around 5.30pm, signalling volunteers to illuminate lamps at the ghats, marking the beginning of the event. This was unlike the previous years when he illuminated the first lamp at Ram Ki Paidi. Uttar Pradesh tourism and culture minister Jaiveer Singh and principal secretary Amrit Abhijat presented the Guinness certificate to the chief minister later in the evening. The first Guinness award was given for the largest display of oil lamps (26,17,215) achieved jointly by the UP department of tourism, the Ayodhya administration, and the Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University. The other award was given for the most number of people performing 'aarti' simultaneously on the Saryu banks. The tourism department, the district administration and the Saryu Aarti Samiti in Ayodhya jointly achieved this (second) feat, the statement said. Around 33,000 volunteers from Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University lit diyas along the 56 ghats throughout Ayodhya, where around 28 lakh diyas were laid. As the official announcement of the new Guinness Record was made at Ram Ki Paidi, Ayodhya's skyline was lit up with firecrackers. The cracker show continued for more than 10 minutes and was preceded by a laser and drone show at Ram Ki Paidi, enthralling people. Around 100 experts brought to life various characters of Ramayan as the event at Ram Ki Paidi presented the story of Lord Ram through projection mapping, laser effects, fireworks, music, and storytelling. It featured new visuals, storyboard and animation. With the help of lasers, artists created the Pushpak Viman carrying Lord Ram and Mata Sita in Ayodhya's skyline. Images of Lord Hanuman and Maharishi Valmiki were also part of the show. Choreographed musical drone presented 3-D holographic musical laser show. The 1100 indigenously built drones projected glimpses of various episodes from the Ramayan as the amazing artwork emerged in the sky, creating a divine spectacle. A 3-D holographic musical laser show added glitz to the event, making the experience memorable for spectators. A graduation student, Raman Pal, who came all the way from Bahraich, for Deepotsav with his friends, said, "It is the first time I am attending Deepotsav in Ayodhya. The entire show was amazing, especially the laser show, drone and cracker show at Ram Ki Paidi." Girish Yadav, who came from Sultanpur, with his family members, said, "I cannot express in words my feelings after experiencing this amazing show at Ram Ki Paidi." The entire Ayodhya was decked up for Deepotsav as temples, buildings and historical monuments were adorned. From the Saryu Ghat, Ram Ki Paidi, Dharmapath, Rampath to Hanumangarhi, Kanak Bhavan to Nageshwarnath, all roads on the Panch Kosi Parikrama Marg were decorated with rangolis depicting the stories of Lord Ram....