Preparations began on Friday, October 23, with cleaning and marking work at the ghats. Dr Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University is coordinating the arrangements, working with the district administration to organise the lamps, volunteers and other logistical requirements.
This year’s event aims to expand the scale of the celebrations while showcasing Ayodhya’s religious and cultural heritage.
Preparations begin at 56 ghats
The lighting arrangements will cover 56 ghats along the Sarayu river, including the expanded Ram Ki Paidi, Chaudhary Charan Singh Ghat and Bhajan Sandhya Sthal.
Officials have begun marking designated areas to ensure the lamps are arranged in uniform blocks. The marking process is expected to take three to four days, after which volunteers will help position the lamps according to the designated layout.
Around 33 lakh earthen lamps have been ordered to meet the target of lighting 30 lakh diyas. The additional lamps will help account for breakage during transportation, handling and placement.
A ground-breaking ceremony was scheduled at Ghat No. 10 on Friday morning, marking the formal beginning of the preparations.
Around 35,000 volunteers to manage arrangements
Approximately 35,000 volunteers from colleges and the university campus are expected to participate in arranging and lighting the lamps.
The volunteers will be assigned responsibilities according to individual ghats and designated sections. Organisers are also conducting training and coordinating registrations to ensure the work proceeds in an orderly manner.
Identification cards containing photographs, contact details, QR codes and deployment information are planned to help officials manage volunteer assignments.
The university and district administration are coordinating arrangements related to lamp placement, ghat management, volunteer deployment and security.
Event aims to build on previous year’s record
The 2025 Deepotsav saw 26,17,215 earthen lamps lit across 56 ghats, according to reports on last year’s event. The 2026 target of 30 lakh lamps would exceed that figure if achieved.
The expanded target is expected to require detailed coordination between the university, district administration, volunteers and other participating agencies.
The arrangement of the lamps in uniform blocks will also help organisers manage the lighting process and facilitate counting, should an official record attempt be undertaken.
Ayodhya to showcase its cultural heritage
Deepotsav has become a major annual event in Ayodhya, attracting devotees and visitors for its religious ceremonies, illuminated ghats and cultural programmes.
The 10th edition is planned as part of a broader series of celebrations from November 6 to 8, with the main lamp-lighting event scheduled for November 7, according to earlier reports.
The city is also expected to feature decorations inspired by the Ramayana at prominent locations, including Ram Ki Paidi, Ram Katha Park and routes leading into Ayodhya. These arrangements are intended to complement the riverfront lighting and present the city’s cultural heritage to visitors.
As preparations continue, organisers will focus on completing the ghat layouts, coordinating thousands of volunteers and ensuring that the event is conducted safely and efficiently.