Anurag Thakur shares glimpse of 10th Deepotsav in Ayodhya
Synopsis
BJP MP Anurag Thakur shared a video of the 10th Deepotsav in Ayodhya, showcasing the city's Sarayu riverbank illuminated by thousands of diyas. The milestone edition reflects Ayodhya's growing stature as a cultural and religious landmark since the Ram Janmabhoomi temple consecration in January 2024.
Key Takeaways
Anurag Thakur , BJP Lok Sabha MP from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh , shared a video of Ayodhya's 10th Deepotsav on X.
Deepotsav is an annual festival of lights held in Ayodhya featuring mass lighting of diyas along the Sarayu river .
The 10th edition marks a full decade of this annual tradition tied to Lord Rama's homecoming legend.
The Ram Janmabhoomi temple , consecrated in January 2024 , has significantly boosted religious tourism in Ayodhya.
Thakur is a former Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports .
A city draped in the glow of countless diyas, the Sarayu riverbank shimmering like a constellation pulled to earth — BJP MP Anurag Thakur captured that spectacle in a video post on X, calling the 10th edition of Deepotsav in Ayodhya an 'extraordinary sight of a Ram-soaked Ayodhya' (Raammay Ayodhyaji ka adbhut nazara).
A decade of diyas on the Sarayu
Deepotsav — Ayodhya's grand festival of lamps — has grown from a state-government initiative into one of the most-watched cultural spectacles in the country. Held annually around Diwali, the event centres on the mass lighting of earthen lamps along the banks of the Sarayu river, recreating the legendary welcome accorded to Lord Rama on his return to the city. The 10th edition marks a full decade of this tradition, underscoring the event's staying power as a fixture of Ayodhya's cultural calendar.
Ayodhya's transformation since the temple consecration
The backdrop to this year's celebration is a city visibly transformed. The Ram Janmabhoomi temple — consecrated in January 2024 — has made Ayodhya a magnet for pilgrims and tourists in a way few Indian cities have experienced in recent memory. Infrastructure investment, riverfront development, and events like Deepotsav have collectively repositioned the city as a premier religious-tourism destination. Deepotsav sits at the heart of that effort: it is both a living tradition and a deliberate statement about Ayodhya's cultural identity.
Why a BJP MP's post carries more than ceremonial weight
Thakur, a five-term Lok Sabha member and former Union Minister who held the Information and Broadcasting portfolio, has consistently amplified cultural and soft-power narratives tied to the BJP's governance record. His sharing of the Deepotsav video — rather than a routine political update — signals how festivals like this one function as visible proof-points of the party's promise to restore Ayodhya's centrality to Indian cultural life. For his audience, the clip is devotion and politics folded into a single frame of flickering light.
Ten editions in, Deepotsav has become the kind of event that needs no explanation — only a front-row seat.
Point of View
Yet its framing — 'Ram-soaked Ayodhya' — signals how seamlessly governance, faith, and electoral identity intertwine in this geography. As Ayodhya's tourism infrastructure matures, events like Deepotsav will increasingly serve as the city's most potent soft-power export.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Deepotsav in Ayodhya?
Deepotsav is an annual festival of lights held in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, centred on the mass lighting of earthen diyas along the Sarayu river to commemorate Lord Rama's legendary return to the city.
When was the 10th Deepotsav held in Ayodhya?
The 10th edition of Deepotsav was held in Ayodhya around Diwali in November 2026, marking a decade of the annual celebration.
Who is Anurag Thakur and why did he post about Deepotsav?
Anurag Thakur is a BJP Lok Sabha MP from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, and a former Union Minister. He shared a video of the 10th Deepotsav to highlight the cultural spectacle in Ayodhya.
What is the significance of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple for Ayodhya tourism?
The Ram Janmabhoomi temple, consecrated in January 2024, has transformed Ayodhya into one of India's top religious-tourism destinations, drawing millions of pilgrims and boosting local infrastructure investment.
How many times has Deepotsav been held in Ayodhya?
The 2026 edition is the 10th Deepotsav, reflecting a full decade of the state-government-backed annual festival of lights in Ayodhya.
