Key Highlights:
- Ayodhya is preparing for its 10th Deepotsav, with over 26 lakh earthen lamps to be lit on November 7.
- Volunteers from Avadh University will assist with arrangements alongside police and administration.
- Cleanliness, painting and beautification work at Ram Ki Paidi and other ghats is nearing completion.
- Deepotsav 2025 set two Guinness World Records, including the largest display of oil lamps with 26,17,215 diyas lit.
- The festival recreates the traditional welcome believed to have greeted Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya.
A Milestone Edition in the Making
Preparations for the 10th edition of Deepotsav have intensified across Ayodhya, with authorities planning to light more than 26 lakh earthen lamps on November 7. As the festival approaches its tenth year, the scale of coordination involved, spanning volunteers, police, administration and multiple government departments, reflects how significantly the event has grown since its inception.
Volunteers and Officials Join Forces
Volunteers from Avadh University are set to assist with on-ground arrangements this year, working alongside police personnel and administrative staff to ensure the event runs smoothly. Divisional Commissioner Rajesh Kumar confirmed that a coordination meeting was held with police, administration and other departments involved in organising the event. "In the meeting, police personnel and everyone contributing to the event were told about their responsibilities and how they need to complete them," Kumar told IANS.
Why the Tenth Edition Carries Extra Weight
A tenth anniversary edition often becomes an occasion for organisers to exceed previous benchmarks, and Ayodhya's Deepotsav appears to be following that pattern. Having already secured two Guinness World Records in its ninth edition, the event now carries an added layer of expectation, both from residents who have watched the festival evolve into a globally recognised spectacle, and from officials keen to sustain that momentum. Kumar's emphasis on making this year "more grand than previous editions" suggests organisers are conscious of the event's growing symbolic weight beyond Ayodhya itself, as a marker of the city's transformation and religious significance.
Ghats Get a Makeover
Significant attention this year has gone into the cleanliness and visual upkeep of the city's ghats, particularly Ram Ki Paidi, where cleaning, painting and beautification work is nearing completion. "Especially, the work related to cleanliness which is not completely done, we have also directed them to clean the ghats. We will work on making the city cleaner, carry out painting work and ensure that the city gets a beautiful look," Kumar said. He added that lamp-making work would also be completed as part of the broader arrangements, with officials aiming to execute the event "in a grand manner."
Last Year's Record-Breaking Edition
Deepotsav 2025 set a high bar for this year's celebrations, having achieved two Guinness World Records, one for the most people performing simultaneous diya rotations, and another for the largest display of oil lamps. A total of 26,17,215 diyas were lit that year by the Department of Tourism, district administration and Ayodhya authorities, a figure that this year's planned count of over 26 lakh lamps appears set to approach or surpass.
A Festival Rooted in Tradition
Every year, Ayodhya marks Deepotsav by illuminating the city with countless earthen lamps, recreating the welcome traditionally believed to have been given to Lord Ram upon his return to the city. This year's celebration will once again see the city adorned with elaborate lighting, themed decorations and cultural tableaux depicting scenes from the Ramayan, continuing a visual tradition that has become central to the festival's identity.
A Symbol Beyond the Spectacle
Beyond its scale and record-breaking ambitions, Deepotsav continues to carry its original symbolic meaning: the triumph of light over darkness and righteousness over injustice. As preparations move into their final stages ahead of November 7, that symbolism remains the underlying thread connecting Ayodhya's expanding celebrations to the centuries-old story they are designed to commemorate.
Key Highlights:
- Ayodhya is preparing for its 10th Deepotsav, with over 26 lakh earthen lamps to be lit on November 7.
- Volunteers from Avadh University will assist with arrangements alongside police and administration.
- Cleanliness, painting and beautification work at Ram Ki Paidi and other ghats is nearing completion.
- Deepotsav 2025 set two Guinness World Records, including the largest display of oil lamps with 26,17,215 diyas lit.
- The festival recreates the traditional welcome believed to have greeted Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya.
A Milestone Edition in the Making
Preparations for the 10th edition of Deepotsav have intensified across Ayodhya, with authorities planning to light more than 26 lakh earthen lamps on November 7. As the festival approaches its tenth year, the scale of coordination involved, spanning volunteers, police, administration and multiple government departments, reflects how significantly the event has grown since its inception.
Volunteers and Officials Join Forces
Volunteers from Avadh University are set to assist with on-ground arrangements this year, working alongside police personnel and administrative staff to ensure the event runs smoothly. Divisional Commissioner Rajesh Kumar confirmed that a coordination meeting was held with police, administration and other departments involved in organising the event. "In the meeting, police personnel and everyone contributing to the event were told about their responsibilities and how they need to complete them," Kumar told IANS.
Why the Tenth Edition Carries Extra Weight
A tenth anniversary edition often becomes an occasion for organisers to exceed previous benchmarks, and Ayodhya's Deepotsav appears to be following that pattern. Having already secured two Guinness World Records in its ninth edition, the event now carries an added layer of expectation, both from residents who have watched the festival evolve into a globally recognised spectacle, and from officials keen to sustain that momentum. Kumar's emphasis on making this year "more grand than previous editions" suggests organisers are conscious of the event's growing symbolic weight beyond Ayodhya itself, as a marker of the city's transformation and religious significance.
Ghats Get a Makeover
Significant attention this year has gone into the cleanliness and visual upkeep of the city's ghats, particularly Ram Ki Paidi, where cleaning, painting and beautification work is nearing completion. "Especially, the work related to cleanliness which is not completely done, we have also directed them to clean the ghats. We will work on making the city cleaner, carry out painting work and ensure that the city gets a beautiful look," Kumar said. He added that lamp-making work would also be completed as part of the broader arrangements, with officials aiming to execute the event "in a grand manner."
Last Year's Record-Breaking Edition
Deepotsav 2025 set a high bar for this year's celebrations, having achieved two Guinness World Records, one for the most people performing simultaneous diya rotations, and another for the largest display of oil lamps. A total of 26,17,215 diyas were lit that year by the Department of Tourism, district administration and Ayodhya authorities, a figure that this year's planned count of over 26 lakh lamps appears set to approach or surpass.
A Festival Rooted in Tradition
Every year, Ayodhya marks Deepotsav by illuminating the city with countless earthen lamps, recreating the welcome traditionally believed to have been given to Lord Ram upon his return to the city. This year's celebration will once again see the city adorned with elaborate lighting, themed decorations and cultural tableaux depicting scenes from the Ramayan, continuing a visual tradition that has become central to the festival's identity.
A Symbol Beyond the Spectacle
Beyond its scale and record-breaking ambitions, Deepotsav continues to carry its original symbolic meaning: the triumph of light over darkness and righteousness over injustice. As preparations move into their final stages ahead of November 7, that symbolism remains the underlying thread connecting Ayodhya's expanding celebrations to the centuries-old story they are designed to commemorate.