Streets and homes across India lit up on Sunday night as millions of people came together to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. This year's festivities broke a Guinness World Record for the largest display of earthen oil lamps, with an astounding 2.2 million lamps lit in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Despite a ban on firecrackers, crowds defied the restrictions and engaged in traditional activities such as lighting sparklers and candles, as well as setting off fireworks in various cities and towns, including the capital, New Delhi.

However, Indian officials had expressed concerns over the worsening air pollution, which had reached hazardous levels in New Delhi prior to a brief spell of rain that provided temporary respite. Unfortunately, the revelry of Diwali festivities led to a new cloud of smoky haze in the capital, further deteriorating the already alarming air quality.

By midnight local time, major urban areas like New Delhi and Kolkata experienced dangerously deteriorating air quality. This time of year typically marks the beginning of the "pollution season" in New Delhi, lasting for several months due to vehicle exhaust, construction dust, industrial emissions, and crop burning in nearby states.

Despite efforts to enforce bans on firecrackers during Diwali, the festival is so deeply cherished and widely celebrated that such restrictions are seldom followed. The Supreme Court of India did not enact a blanket ban on all firecrackers this year, instead emphasizing the prohibition of sales of firecrackers that contain banned chemicals or are joined together.

Diwali, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, is celebrated annually not only by Hindus but also by Sikhs and Jains, as well as by the South Asian diaspora across the globe. The festival is observed by lighting candles, setting off fireworks, and adorning homes, temples, and riverbanks with diyas, or earthenware oil lamps.

During the five days of Diwali, people come together to feast, share sweets, worship, and spend time with loved ones. Many also adorn their homes with rangoli, a traditional art form where vibrant patterns are created on the floor using colored rice or sand.

On Saturday, Uttar Pradesh witnessed a magnificent spectacle as devotees lit over 2.2 million oil lamps in Ayodhya, situated on the banks of the Saryu River, the birthplace of the Hindu god Ram. The state tourism agency declared that this feat broke previous records of just under 2 million lamps.

The remarkable display of oil lamps has officially been recognized as a new Guinness World Record. Representatives from the Guinness Book of World Records were present to count the lamps and subsequently presented a record certificate to the top elected official of the state, Yogi Adityanath.

Despite the concerns regarding air pollution, the sheer magnitude of the Diwali celebrations and the breaking of a Guinness World Record have left a lasting impression of the vibrancy and cultural significance of this ancient festival.