VP Radhakrishnan joins Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026, 10th edition targets 33 lakh diyas
Synopsis
The 10th Ayodhya Deepotsav is shaping up to be the grandest yet — 30 to 33 lakh earthen diyas across 56 ghats, the Vice-President offering prayers at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, and CM Yogi recasting a religious festival as an economic engine for potters, farmers, and small traders.
Key Takeaways
Radhakrishnan will visit Ayodhya on 7 November 2026 to participate in Deepotsav 2026 .
He will offer prayers at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple and take part in the symbolic coronation ceremony of Shri Ram .
Organisers aim to light 30 to 33 lakh earthen diyas across 56 ghats , with Ram Ki Paidi as the primary centre.
The 2026 edition marks the 10th anniversary of the festival, which began in 2017.
CM Yogi Adityanath framed Deepotsav as an economic multiplier for potters, farmers, and local traders, citing the 'double-engine government.' Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November , the day after the main Deepotsav event.
Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan is set to visit Ayodhya on Saturday, 7 November 2026, to participate in Deepotsav 2026, the grand festival of lights celebrated annually ahead of Diwali. His visit marks the 10th anniversary of the event, which organisers aim to make the most spectacular edition yet, with plans to light between 30 to 33 lakh earthen diyas across 56 ghats.
VP's Schedule in Ayodhya
During his visit, Vice-President Radhakrishnan will offer prayers at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple and participate in the symbolic coronation ceremony of Shri Ram, according to an official statement. He will also felicitate revered saints as part of the day's programme. Diwali falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, making Saturday's Deepotsav the eve of the festival.
Scale of the 2026 Celebration
The primary illumination centre this year is Ram Ki Paidi and the banks of the Saryu River, where the bulk of the 30 to 33 lakh diyas are to be lit across all 56 ghats. The 2026 edition of Deepotsav had already commenced on Thursday, with river banks across Ayodhya illuminated with lakhs of lamps in the run-up to the main event. Separately, the banks of the Gomti River at Maa Kamakhya Dham, near Ayodhya, were lit with 1.51 lakh diyas during the sixth annual Deepotsav held at that site.
CM Yogi on the Economic Case for Deepotsav
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath this week highlighted the economic significance of the festival, arguing that every earthen lamp lit during Deepotsav represents the labour of potters, the produce of farmers, and the livelihoods of local families. In a post on social media platform X, he wrote: 'The grand Deepotsav of Shri Ayodhya Dham is giving fresh momentum to the economy along with faith. Every diya lit here is bringing new light to the hard work of a potter, the produce of a farmer and the livelihood of a family.'
Adityanath also alleged that prior administrations had failed to connect Ayodhya's cultural potential with local prosperity, saying there had been a 'complete lack of vision to transform the strength of faith into new livelihood opportunities.' He credited the 'double-engine government' — referring to aligned state and central administrations — with reversing that trend. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the festival was reportedly creating new employment and business avenues for potters, labourers, and small traders, he added.
Deepotsav's Growing National Profile
What began as a state-organised cultural initiative in 2017 has grown into one of India's largest lamp-lighting events, drawing national dignitaries every year. The Vice-President's participation in the 10th edition underscores the event's elevated status in the national cultural calendar. This comes amid Ayodhya's ongoing transformation as a major religious tourism destination following the consecration of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in January 2024. The city's economy has seen a measurable uptick in footfall and local trade since then, lending additional weight to Yogi's framing of Deepotsav as an economic multiplier.
Point of View
But it invites scrutiny: measurable income data for artisans before and after the festival remains scarce. The 10th-anniversary milestone also arrives as Ayodhya's post-temple-consecration tourism boom faces infrastructure bottlenecks. Whether Deepotsav's headline diya-count translates into sustained local prosperity, or remains a photogenic annual moment, is a question the administration has not yet answered with hard numbers.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026?
Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026 is the 10th edition of Uttar Pradesh's annual festival of lights, held on 7 November 2026, the eve of Diwali, in Ayodhya. Organisers plan to light 30 to 33 lakh earthen diyas across 56 ghats, with Ram Ki Paidi and the Saryu River banks as the main venue.
Why is Vice-President Radhakrishnan visiting Ayodhya?
Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan is attending Deepotsav 2026 to offer prayers at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, participate in the symbolic coronation ceremony of Shri Ram, and felicitate revered saints on the occasion.
When did Ayodhya Deepotsav begin?
Deepotsav was first organised in Ayodhya in 2017 by the Uttar Pradesh government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The 2026 edition marks its 10th anniversary.
What is the economic significance of Deepotsav according to CM Yogi?
CM Yogi Adityanath has argued that the festival generates direct economic benefits for potters who make the diyas, farmers whose produce supports the event, and local traders and labourers. He credited the 'double-engine government' — aligned state and central administrations — with linking Ayodhya's cultural potential to livelihood creation.
Where does Deepotsav 2026 take place?
The main Deepotsav 2026 celebrations are centred at Ram Ki Paidi and the banks of the Saryu River in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, spanning 56 ghats. Satellite events, including a diya-lighting at Maa Kamakhya Dham on the Gomti River, have also been part of the broader celebrations.
