Ayodhya Deepotsav
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh · fair
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Ayodhya Deepotsav is the holy city's luminous Diwali-eve celebration, staged each year on Chhoti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi, the day before the main festival) along the sweeping stone steps of the Ram Ki Paidi ghats on the Saryu river. It is a devotional re-enactment of the very event Diwali commemorates — the return of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile, when tradition holds that the townsfolk lit rows of earthen lamps to guide their beloved prince home. On this evening the entire riverfront becomes a living illustration of that homecoming, as volunteers, students and pilgrims kindle countless tiny oil diyas in disciplined rows that ripple down the ghats to the water's edge.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Ram Rasoi (near the Ram Janmabhoomi complex) – free langar-style pure-vegetarian meals served to pilgrims; sattvic and community-run. Timings vary on festival days; confirm on arrival.
- ✦Community bhandaras along Naya Ghat and the temple lanes – free pure-veg prasad-style food set up specially for Deepotsav; entirely vegetarian, confirm locally.
- ✦Sweet and snack stalls near Naya Ghat / Hanuman Garhi lanes – hot jalebi, kachori-sabzi, peda and khurchan; the area is traditionally pure-vegetarian, though confirm each stall on arrival.
- ✦Kanak Bhawan lane eateries – simple pure-veg thali and chaat outlets serving pilgrims; verify pure-veg status on arrival as the wider Faizabad side is mixed.
About
Ayodhya Deepotsav is the holy city's luminous Diwali-eve celebration, staged each year on Chhoti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi, the day before the main festival) along the sweeping stone steps of the Ram Ki Paidi ghats on the Saryu river.
- It is a devotional re-enactment of the very event Diwali commemorates — the return of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile, when tradition holds that the townsfolk lit rows of earthen lamps to guide their beloved prince home.
- On this evening the entire riverfront becomes a living illustration of that homecoming, as volunteers, students and pilgrims kindle countless tiny oil diyas in disciplined rows that ripple down the ghats to the water's edge. The scale is extraordinary.
- Since the festival was revived as a grand civic-cultural observance in 2017, the number of lamps lit simultaneously has climbed year on year past the two-million mark, earning Ayodhya repeated entries in the Guinness World Records for the largest display of oil lamps.
- Set across fifty and more ghats, the sea of flickering flames reflected in the dark Saryu — often accompanied in recent years by synchronised laser and drone-light shows over the river and a grand aggregated Saryu aarti performed by rows of priests swinging tiered brass lamps — creates one of the most photographed spiritual spectacles in India.
- The air carries the scent of mustard-oil lamps, marigold and incense, and the chant of Ramayana verses.
- The day is woven through with cultural devotion: a symbolic shobha yatra (procession) depicting scenes from the Ramayana winds through the city, tableaux and Ramleela troupes perform episodes of Rama's life, and a ceremonial welcome of Rama is enacted before the lamp-lighting begins at dusk.
- For pilgrims the evening pairs naturally with darshan at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple and the older Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhawan shrines.
- Ayodhya is a strictly vegetarian, alcohol-free holy city, and Deepotsav is a wholly sattvic affair.
- Free community bhandaras and the langar-style Ram Rasoi serve simple pure-veg meals to pilgrims, while stalls near Naya Ghat and the temple lanes offer kachori-sabzi, hot jalebi, peda and khurchan.
- Viewing the ghats is free; arrive early, as crowds are immense and roads close to traffic near the riverfront.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Ram Ki Paidi ghats, Saryu riverfront, near Naya Ghat, Ayodhya, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, 224123
How to Reach: Ram Ki Paidi / Naya Ghat on the Saryu riverfront, central Ayodhya. From Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station it is about 2–3 km (auto-rickshaw ~₹40–80, 10–15 min on normal days). Ayodhya's Maharishi Valmiki International Airport is ~10–12 km. On Deepotsav evening the riverfront is closed to vehicles — expect to walk the final stretch and follow police-managed pedestrian routes; e-rickshaws and shuttle points operate from designated parking areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Ayodhya Deepotsav celebrated?
Deepotsav is held once a year on Chhoti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi), the evening before the main Diwali festival, so it falls in October or November depending on the Hindu lunar calendar. The lamp-lighting and grand Saryu aarti begin around dusk (reported roughly 5:30–7:00 PM). Because the date shifts each year, confirm the exact day and official programme locally before planning your trip.
Where does Deepotsav take place in Ayodhya?
The heart of the celebration is the Ram Ki Paidi ghats along the Saryu river, near Naya Ghat in central Ayodhya, where the stone steps of fifty-plus ghats are lined with earthen lamps down to the water's edge. Related processions and Ramleela performances spread through the city, and many visitors combine the evening with darshan at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhawan.
Is there an entry fee to see the Deepotsav?
No. Viewing the illuminated ghats and the Saryu aarti from the public riverfront is free. Some organised galleries or seating areas may be reserved, but the general spectacle is open to all pilgrims and visitors. Arrive early, as the riverfront fills quickly and roads near the ghats are closed to traffic.
How many diyas are lit at Ayodhya Deepotsav?
Since the festival was revived as a grand observance in 2017, the number of simultaneously lit oil lamps has grown year on year past two million, earning Ayodhya repeated Guinness World Records for the largest display of oil lamps. The exact record figure is announced afresh each year, so the latest count varies — but the sight of millions of flames mirrored in the Saryu is consistently breathtaking.
What can I see and do during Deepotsav besides the lamps?
Beyond the sea of diyas, the evening features a grand aggregated Saryu aarti performed by rows of priests, a symbolic procession and tableaux depicting scenes from the Ramayana, Ramleela performances, and in recent years synchronised laser and drone-light shows over the river. Many pilgrims pair the festival with temple darshan. Dress modestly, keep valuables secure in the crowds, and follow the marshalled pedestrian routes.
Where can I eat vegetarian food during Deepotsav in Ayodhya?
Ayodhya is a strictly vegetarian, alcohol-free holy city, and Deepotsav is a wholly sattvic occasion. Free community bhandaras and the langar-style Ram Rasoi near the temple serve simple pure-veg meals to pilgrims, while stalls around Naya Ghat and the temple lanes offer kachori-sabzi, hot jalebi, peda and khurchan. Timings shift on festival days, and the wider Faizabad side is mixed, so confirm any individual outlet is pure-veg on arrival.