CM Yogi's UP Govt Livestreams Deepotsav 2026 from Ayodhya
Synopsis
The Chief Minister's Office of Uttar Pradesh livestreamed the grand 'Deepotsav-2026' festival from Ayodhya Dham on 7 November 2026, marking what appears to be the tenth annual edition of the state's signature festival of lights on the Sarayu river.
Key Takeaways
The UP CMO broadcast Deepotsav-2026 live from Ayodhya Dham on 7 November 2026 .
The hashtag #deepostav1dasak suggests this is the event's tenth annual edition , first held in 2017 under CM Yogi Adityanath.
Deepotsav features mass lighting of diyas along the Sarayu river ghats and is a flagship cultural event of the UP government.
The festival is part of a broader state strategy to develop Ayodhya as a major pilgrimage and religious tourism hub.
UP's Ayodhya push accelerated after the 2019 Supreme Court verdict clearing the path for the Ram Mandir .
Thousands of diyas flickering along the ghats of the Sarayu river — that is the image Ayodhya Dham projects to the world every November, and on Saturday, 7 November 2026, the Chief Minister's Office of Uttar Pradesh took that spectacle live to a national audience, broadcasting the grand Deepotsav-2026 ceremony in real time on X.
The CMO's post carried a direct link to the live broadcast of what it called a 'bhavya-divya' ('grand and divine') celebration at Shri Ayodhya Dham, anchored by the hashtags #Deepotsav2026 and #deepostav1dasak — the latter suggesting this edition marks a decade-related milestone in the event's journey.Nine Years of Diyas: Deepotsav's Rise as a State Signature
Deepotsav was first organised in 2017, the year Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took office, as a government-led festival of lights designed to celebrate Ayodhya's cultural heritage and draw pilgrims and tourists to the city. What began as a ceremonial lighting of diyas on the Sarayu ghats has grown annually into one of Uttar Pradesh's most high-profile cultural events, drawing enormous crowds and significant state investment in infrastructure and spectacle.
The 2026 edition is the tenth in the series — a symbolic threshold that the hashtag #deepostav1dasak (dasak meaning 'decade' in Hindi) appears to mark. Each successive year has seen the Uttar Pradesh government use Deepotsav as a showcase for Ayodhya's transformation, particularly after the 2019 Supreme Court verdict that cleared the path for the construction of the Ram Mandir.
Ayodhya's Bigger Arc: From Verdict to Pilgrimage Powerhouse
Deepotsav does not exist in isolation. It sits at the centre of a broader state strategy to position Ayodhya — revered as the birthplace of Lord Ram — as a world-class pilgrimage and religious tourism destination. Road widening, the new Ayodhya airport, riverfront development, and hotel infrastructure have all been part of this push, with Deepotsav serving as the annual cultural centrepiece that keeps the city in the national spotlight.
For residents of Ayodhya and the millions of devotees who tune in or travel for the occasion, the festival carries deep religious resonance. For the state government, the live broadcast extends that reach further — turning a single night on the Sarayu ghats into a signal about Uttar Pradesh's ambitions on the religious-tourism map.
Ten editions in, Deepotsav is no longer just a festival. It is a statement — and in 2026, Ayodhya is making it louder than ever.
Point of View
Using Ayodhya's religious symbolism to anchor a wider development and tourism narrative. The tenth edition landing in 2026 gives the government a natural milestone to amplify — 'dasak' framing signals a coming-of-age story, not just an anniversary. At a time when Ayodhya's post-Ram Mandir infrastructure buildout is still being tested by tourist footfall realities, the live broadcast strategy keeps the city's profile elevated in the national conversation. How the government translates cultural spectacle into measurable economic gains for Ayodhya residents will be the more consequential story to watch.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Deepotsav in Ayodhya?
Deepotsav is an annual festival of lights organised by the Uttar Pradesh government in Ayodhya, featuring the mass lighting of oil lamps (diyas) along the Sarayu river ghats. It has been held every year since 2017 as a celebration of Ayodhya's cultural and religious heritage.
When did Deepotsav start in Ayodhya?
Deepotsav was first organised in Ayodhya in 2017 after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took office in Uttar Pradesh. The 2026 edition marks the tenth year of the event.
What does 'deepostav1dasak' mean?
'Dasak' means 'decade' in Hindi, so the hashtag #deepostav1dasak indicates that the 2026 Deepotsav marks a decade — the tenth edition — of the annual festival.
Why is Ayodhya significant for the UP government?
Ayodhya is revered as the birthplace of Lord Ram and is the site of the Ram Mandir. The UP government under CM Yogi Adityanath has prioritised developing the city as a world-class pilgrimage and religious tourism destination through infrastructure upgrades and events like Deepotsav.
Where is Deepotsav 2026 held?
Deepotsav 2026 is held at Shri Ayodhya Dham in Uttar Pradesh, with celebrations centred on the ghats of the Sarayu river.
