Ayodhya/Lucknow, Oct 17 (UNI) The sacred city of Ayodhya is coming alive with devotion and preparation as the final touches begin for Deepotsav 2025, one of India’s grandest festivals of light and faith.
The banks of the Saryu are being transformed into a divine sea of lamps, with 26,11,101 diyas set to be lit on October 19, creating a magnificent sight that will once again enter the Guinness World Records.
At the heart of this year’s Deepotsav is the unmatched participation of the people. Around 33,000 volunteers, including students, teachers, and local organisations, are working together to lay diyas across 56 ghats, under the coordination of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University.
By the afternoon of October 17, nearly 50% of the diya-laying work was completed across Ghats 8, 9, 10, and 11, with about 7 to 8 lakh diyas already in place. Volunteers, guided by their instructors, are carefully lining the ghats with earthen lamps, ready to illuminate the sacred riverfront in a breathtaking display of faith and devotion.
Nodal Officer Prof. Sant Sharan Mishra said, “The enthusiasm among young volunteers is inspiring. Their dedication shows how deeply the next generation connects with ‘Ram Kaaj’. Seeing their excitement fill the ghats with life and devotion is truly heartwarming.”
Of the 26 lakh diyas, nearly 16 lakh have been handmade by about 40 potter families from Ayodhya and nearby villages including Jaisinghpur, Pura Bazar, and Gosaiganj.
Another 10 lakh diyas have been procured from industrial units, social organisations, rural women, and the general public across Uttar Pradesh. To support the lighting, around 55 lakh cotton wicks have been prepared, and 73,000 litres of oil will be used.
State Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said, “The government and all concerned authorities under the leadership of CM Yogi are working round the clock to ensure that every visitor to Ayodhya experiences something divine. Deepotsav 2025 has been planned on a larger, more meaningful scale so that people not only see the light but feel the devotion behind it.”
He added that the 3D holographic musical laser show and the drone show featuring 1,100 ‘Make in India’ drones will be open to the public on October 18, 19, and 20. The Maha Aarti on October 19, performed by 2,100 devotees, will add to the event’s grandeur.
The Minister also shared that over 16.44 crore tourists visited Ayodhya between January and December 2024, while 23.82 crore visitors arrived in just the first six months of 2025, marking record-breaking footfall and reaffirming Ayodhya’s place as a global spiritual destination.
As diyas are being arranged, excitement fills the air. Devotees have begun arriving from Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Mirzapur, turning Ayodhya into a vibrant hub of faith.
Preeti Kumari, a student volunteer, said, “This year, Ayodhya feels more alive than ever. The preparations, the lights, the devotion everything makes it feel like the Treta Yug has returned.”
With every diya that is placed and every visitor who arrives, Ayodhya moves closer to lighting up not just its ghats but the hearts of millions who believe in the eternal light of Lord Ram.
UNI MBD PPP ARN