Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026: preparations begin to light 30 lakh diyas
By Ishita SenCulture & Heritage Editor, Peepals Sanskriti
Representative image: antriksh / Pixabay
Preparations for Ayodhya's 10th Deepotsav began on October 23, 2026, with officials aiming to light over 30 lakh diyas across 56 Saryu ghats.
What Happened
Preparations for the 10th Deepotsav in Ayodhya began on October 23, 2026, with organisers aiming to light more than 30 lakh (3 million) earthen lamps, or diyas, across more than 56 ghats on the Saryu riverfront and in the city, according to Uttar Pradesh government officials. Around 33 lakh lamps have been ordered to allow for breakage, and about 35,000 volunteers from colleges and the university campus are expected to arrange and light them. The festival is held every year in the days before Diwali, which falls on November 8 this year.
Key Facts
- Edition: the 10th Deepotsav, Ayodhya's annual festival of lamps before Diwali.
- Target: more than 30 lakh diyas across more than 56 ghats on the Saryu, according to state officials.
- Lamps ordered: about 33 lakh, with the extra lamps meant to cover breakage in transport, handling and placement.
- Volunteers: about 35,000 students and staff from colleges and the university campus, registered online and given ID cards with QR codes.
- Coordination: Dr Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University is organising lamps, volunteers and logistics with the district administration.
- Work under way: marking of the ghats and clean-up began on October 23, and volunteers are being trained so the count can meet Guinness World Records standards.
- Last year's ninth edition aimed at about 26 lakh lamps, according to a 2025 government radio report.
Why It Matters
According to tradition, Diwali marks Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and his victory over Ravan, and the people of the city are said to have lit lamps to welcome him. Deepotsav, which means "festival of lamps", draws on that story. The festival is organised with the Uttar Pradesh government and is built around the lighting of earthen lamps along the Saryu riverfront.
This year organisers are again working to Guinness World Records standards. Moving from about 26 lakh lamps last year to a target of more than 30 lakh this year is a jump of several lakh lamps in one year. That makes the count, which is independently verified, the most closely watched number of the festival.
Behind the number is a large logistics exercise. Each lamp has to be made, transported, placed in a marked spot, filled with oil and wick, and lit within a short window, and then counted. That is why organisers have ordered about 33 lakh lamps for a target of 30 lakh, and why the volunteers are being trained on Guinness rules in advance. Students make up most of the workforce, which turns the festival into a mass participation event for the region's young people.
The festival also matters for Ayodhya's economy. The orders for lakhs of earthen lamps support potters, and the event draws pilgrims and tourists to the city in the run-up to Diwali, filling hotels, eateries and local shops.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Edition | 10th Deepotsav |
| Target | More than 30 lakh diyas |
| Lamps ordered | About 33 lakh |
| Ghats | More than 56 on the Saryu |
| Volunteers | About 35,000 |
Impact
Short-term: Over the next two weeks, the ghats will be marked and cleaned, lamps delivered and placed, and volunteers trained. Visitors planning to attend should expect crowd management measures and traffic arrangements announced by the district administration closer to the date.
Long-term: Each larger edition strengthens Ayodhya's place on India's festival and pilgrimage map and supports the livelihoods of potters and tourism businesses. It also raises the question of how much larger the event can grow while keeping the ghats safe and clean.
Who is affected: residents and pilgrims in Ayodhya; about 35,000 student volunteers; potters who supply the lamps; local hotels and traders; and the district administration responsible for safety.
Key Takeaway
Ayodhya has begun preparing its 10th Deepotsav, aiming to light more than 30 lakh diyas across more than 56 Saryu ghats with about 35,000 volunteers, up from about 26 lakh lamps targeted last year.
Questions and Answers
How many diyas will be lit at Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026?
Uttar Pradesh officials say the target is more than 30 lakh earthen lamps across more than 56 ghats on the Saryu riverfront. About 33 lakh lamps have been ordered to cover breakage.
Who lights the lamps at Ayodhya Deepotsav?
About 35,000 volunteers from colleges and the university campus are expected to take part. Dr Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University is coordinating them with the district administration, and volunteers register online and receive QR-coded ID cards.
Why is Deepotsav celebrated in Ayodhya?
According to tradition, Diwali marks Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya, when the city lit lamps to welcome him. Deepotsav, held in the days before Diwali, recreates this with lakhs of lamps along the Saryu.
Will Deepotsav 2026 try for a world record?
Yes. Volunteers are being trained so that the lamp count meets Guinness World Records standards, as organisers aim to beat the previous editions' totals.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Ishita Sen, Culture & Heritage EditorCovers Culture & Heritage and more for Peepals Sanskriti. All stories by Ishita Sen
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Ishita Sen is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
