Hundreds of thousands of oil lamps illuminated the northern Indian city of Ayodhya as part of the festival of Diwali, casting a glowing light over the city on Tuesday.

But the lamps did not just set the scene for the annual five-day celebration, also known as the festival of lights, celebrated by millions in India and around the world. They also set a world record, according to officials.

The 300,150 oil lamps broke a Guinness world record when they burned simultaneously for more than five minutes and provided a stunning spectacle for thousands of city residents and visitors who took part in the lighting. The flickering lamps cast a glow on the Sarayu River, considered sacred in the Hindu religion.