Indian holy city lights 1.5M lamps, retains record

The north Indian city of Ayodhya retained its Guinness World Record by lighting over 1.5 million oil lamps and keeping them burning for 45 minutes, as part of the celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.

The city last year lit 900,000 oil lamps. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the stunning spectacle.

Thousands of visitors thronged the banks of Saryu River where the lamps were lit on Saturday. A light and fireworks show followed, illuminating the city's lanes and river banks.

Thousands of city residents also lit lamps at their houses and temples. The festival symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, marking Hindu God Rama's return home after 14 years of exile, defeating the mythological demon Ravana and rescuing his abducted wife Sita.