Ayodhya is draped in flowers, colourful lights, and festive fervour as the city gears up for the 10th edition of Deepotsav on Saturday, 8 November 2026 — a day before Diwali. Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are scheduled to lead the celebrations, which will illuminate 56 ghats along the Saryu River with millions of earthen lamps.

Ram Temple at the Heart of the Festivities

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple has emerged as the focal point of this year's celebrations. From its main courtyard to the entrance of Ram Lalla, the temple complex has been adorned with elaborate lighting and ornate floral arrangements at every entrance. Special selfie points have been set up for visitors, turning the temple into a major draw for both devotees and tourists arriving from across the country.

Key Dignitaries and Official Programme

Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan will formally inaugurate Deepotsav 2026 in the presence of revered sadhus and religious leaders. Governor Anandiben Patel will also attend the ceremony alongside Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

According to the proposed schedule, Chief Minister Yogi will arrive at the helipad near Ram Katha Park at around 2.40 pm. He will witness the grand Deepotsav tableaux and take part in the chariot-pulling ceremony before showering flower petals over Ayodhya from a helicopter carrying representations of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, and Lakshman. The symbolic coronation of the three divine figures will follow.

Programme Highlights and Spectacle

The Chief Minister will subsequently address sadhus, sants, religious leaders, residents, and devotees at Ram Katha Park. He will then proceed to Ram Ki Paidi for the Saryu Aarti and the ceremonial lighting of lamps. A symbolic lighting ceremony involving 101 lamps will also be held in the courtyard of the Ram temple.

Among the major attractions this year are projection mapping showcasing the life and story of Lord Ram, along with laser and drone shows. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple will be lit up with colourful lights throughout the evening.

Significance of the 10th Edition

The 2026 edition of Ayodhya Deepotsav marks a decade since the festival was first organised, making it a milestone celebration. The event has grown steadily in scale since its inception, with the Saryu riverfront and the Ram temple complex now serving as its twin centrepieces. This comes amid heightened devotee interest in Ayodhya following the consecration of the Ram temple earlier, which has significantly boosted pilgrimage and tourism to the city.

All eyes are now on Saturday evening, when millions of earthen lamps on 56 ghats are expected to light up the banks of the Saryu in a spectacle that has become one of India's most prominent Diwali traditions.