LUCKNOW, India: The northern Indian city of Ayodhya kept its Guinness World Record for a second year by lighting 606,569 oil lamps and keeping them burning for at least 45 minutes as part of the celebration of Deepavali, 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 on Friday (Nov 13) in Ayodhya, where Hindus believe the god Ram was born and where he returned after 14 years in exile.