To send out a message of global peace, the world's largest oil lamp was lit in Punjab’s Mohali—as per the claims made by the organizers of the event. Over 10,000 people contributed oil for the event that concluded with a world record, they said.

Manufactured with around 1,000 kilogram steel, the world’s largest diya, measuring 3.37 metres in diameter, was lit on Saturday evening by the chief guest of the event Lt Gen KJ Singh (retd), former general officer commanding-in-chief of Army’s Western Command, to spread the message of world peace, unity, secularism, and humanism.

Over 10,000 locals, including 4,000 residents of ‘Hero Homes’, representing the diverse fabric and diversity of Indian society, pooled in 3,129 litres of organic and diya-appropriate oils to create this unique symbol of peace.

Themed around the festival of peace, the huge diya was lit in the presence of official adjudicators of the Guinness Book of World Record, who were present at the society of Hero Homes at Mohali to record this feat, said Ashish Kaul, CMO, Hero Realty.

He said that as per the Guinness Book of Records, this diya has been lit with 3,000 litres of cooking oil and qualifies as the world's largest oil lamp ever lit.

Lt Gen Singh said: “This is an unconventional event combining the dual intent of celebrating Diwali as per tradition and one that also manages to spread an important social message... It is befitting that Punjab which has in the past seen strife is now the location of the biggest icon of peace.”

“If you look at diya, it is a medium to spread light, awareness, knowledge and knowledge related to peace,” he said.

Ashish Kaul said: “I thought we must have the biggest symbol of peace in the world from the land of Punjab, from this country for the whole world to know that if at all there is something which we need first and foremost, it is peace, which makes everything else meaningful.”