Ayodhya gears for record-breaking Deepotsav 2025 illumination

MUMBAI: The ghats at Ayodhya are getting ready to transform into a sea of light for Deepotsav 2025. A staggering 26.11 lakh diyas (earthen lamps) will light up on October 19, an effort expected to secure a new Guinness World Record and serve as a monumental testament to faith and community spirit.This year’s festival relies heavily on the unmatched involvement of the people. Approximately 33,000 volunteers, comprised of students, teachers, and local organizations and coordinated by Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, meticulously arrange the lamps across 56 ghats. By the afternoon of October 17, workers completed almost half the massive undertaking—about 7 to 8 lakh diyas were already positioned on key areas like Ghats 8, 9, 10, and 11.”The enthusiasm among young volunteers inspires all. Their dedication shows how deeply the next generation connects with ‘Ram Kaaj’,” said Nodal Officer Prof. Sant Sharan Mishra, acknowledging the spirit that fills the banks of the Saryu River.Tradition lights up livelihoodsDeepotsav 2025 acts as both a grand spectacle and a significant source of support for local artisans. Around 16 lakh diyas were handcrafted by about 40 potter families from Ayodhya and nearby villages such as Jaisinghpur, Pura Bazar, and Gosaiganj. Industrial units, social organizations, and rural women from across Uttar Pradesh supplied the remaining 10 lakh lamps. The event requires considerable logistics: organizers will use 55 lakh cotton wicks and 73,000 litres of oil to sustain the illumination.Key illumination locations:

Deepotsav 2025

Grand celebrations and tourism recordsTourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh guaranteed every visitor to Ayodhya will experience a divine and lifelong memory, stating that planners designed Deepotsav 2025 on a “larger, more meaningful scale so that people not only see the light but feel the devotion behind it.”The three-day celebration runs until October 20. Highlights include a 3D holographic musical laser show and a drone show featuring 1,100 ‘Make in India’ drones, both open to the public from October 18 to 20. The most revered moment occurs on October 19 with a majestic Maha Aarti performed by 2,100 devotees.Minister Singh also noted a significant surge in tourism, with a rise to 23.82 crore visitors in the first six months of 2025 alone, reaffirming Ayodhya’s place as a global spiritual destination.As the final lamps take their place, devotees from states like Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and across Uttar Pradesh arrive in the city, transforming Ayodhya into a vibrant center of faith ready for an unparalleled display of devotion.