Smriti Irani Shares Ayodhya's Deepotsav Glow on X
Synopsis
BJP leader Smriti Irani posted a video of Ayodhya bathed in pre-Deepotsav light on 6 November 2026, calling it the radiant abode of Lord Shri Ram ahead of the annual festival of lamps.
Key Takeaways
Smriti Irani posted a video from Ayodhya on 6 November 2026 , showing the city lit up ahead of Deepotsav .
Her post described Ayodhya as 'Prabhu Shri Ram ka dhaam' — the abode of Lord Shri Ram — 'radiant before Deepotsav'.
The Ram Temple in Ayodhya was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in January 2024 following a 2019 Supreme Court verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute.
Deepotsav is an annual large-scale Diwali illumination event promoted by the Uttar Pradesh government , featuring thousands of oil lamps on the Saryu river ghats.
Ayodhya has been positioned as a premier Hindu pilgrimage and religious tourism destination by BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh.
On the eve of Deepotsav 2026, Ayodhya is already ablaze with light — and BJP leader Smriti Irani captured that radiance in a video posted on Friday, 6 November 2026, offering a glimpse of the sacred city at its most luminous ahead of the festival's grand celebrations.
Irani's post, written in Sanskrit-inflected Hindi, reads: 'Deepotsav se poorv prakashmaan Prabhu Shri Ram ka dhaam...' — 'The abode of Lord Shri Ram, radiant before Deepotsav' — accompanied by a location tag for Ayodhya Ji. The video gives viewers an intimate look at the city's illumination, a sight that has drawn millions of pilgrims each year since the Ram Temple was consecrated.
Ayodhya's transformation from dispute to destination
The city's journey to this moment of festive splendour is decades in the making. A Supreme Court verdict in November 2019 resolved the long-standing Ram Janmabhoomi title dispute, clearing the legal path for temple construction. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ram Temple in January 2024, marking a seismic moment in Indian cultural and political life. What was once the epicentre of one of India's most charged legal battles is now a pilgrimage city lit up for the gods.
Deepotsav: Uttar Pradesh's annual festival of flames
Deepotsav — a grand Diwali illumination event promoted by the Uttar Pradesh government — has grown year on year into one of the country's most spectacular public celebrations. Thousands of oil lamps are lit along the ghats of the Saryu river, turning the waterfront into a river of fire. The event draws pilgrims, tourists, and devotees from across India and abroad, cementing Ayodhya's place on the national spiritual map.
For BJP leaders like Irani, posting from Ayodhya ahead of Deepotsav carries unmistakable cultural weight — a visual affirmation of the party's long-standing commitment to the city's revival as a Hindu pilgrimage and heritage destination.
Ayodhya is glowing tonight. Come Diwali, it will be blinding.
Point of View
Senior leaders making visible gestures toward the city is as much a political statement as a devotional one. Ayodhya's transformation into a high-profile pilgrimage destination is now a durable electoral and cultural asset for the party.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Deepotsav in Ayodhya?
Deepotsav is an annual Diwali celebration in Ayodhya organised by the Uttar Pradesh government, featuring large-scale illumination with oil lamps along the Saryu river ghats and cultural events that draw pilgrims and tourists from across India.
When was the Ram Temple in Ayodhya inaugurated?
The Ram Temple in Ayodhya was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2024 , following the Supreme Court's 2019 verdict resolving the Ram Janmabhoomi title dispute.
What did Smriti Irani post about Ayodhya?
On 6 November 2026 , Smriti Irani shared a video of Ayodhya's pre-Deepotsav illumination on X, describing the city as 'the radiant abode of Lord Shri Ram before Deepotsav'.
Why is Ayodhya significant for Diwali celebrations?
Hindu tradition holds that Diwali commemorates Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, making Ayodhya the spiritual heartland of Diwali. The city's Deepotsav event amplifies this significance with large-scale lamp-lighting rituals.
How has Ayodhya developed as a pilgrimage destination?
Since the Supreme Court's 2019 verdict and the Ram Temple's 2024 consecration, Ayodhya has been rapidly developed as a premier Hindu pilgrimage and religious tourism hub, with festivals like Deepotsav drawing millions of visitors annually.
