Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026: The Date, Ram ki Paidi and Planning Your Visit

Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026 falls on the evening of Saturday, 7 November, the eve of Diwali, which is on Sunday 8 November. It is the tenth Deepotsav since the Uttar Pradesh government began it in 2017: on one evening, lakhs of earthen diyas are lit along Ram ki Paidi and the ghats of the Saryu to mark Ram's return to Ayodhya, and the town fills with pilgrims and visitors from across India. Here is how the evening works and how to plan for it.

Ayodhya Deepotsav at a glance

What happens on the evening

The heart of Deepotsav is the lighting of diyas along Ram ki Paidi, the long chain of ghats on the Saryu, and the ghats around it. Volunteers lay out and fill the lamps in the days before, and at dusk they are lit within a short window. Deepotsav has repeatedly set Guinness World Records for the most oil lamps lit at once, with more than 25 lakh diyas in 2024.

In past editions the day has also included a procession of Ramayana tableaux through the town, a symbolic welcome and coronation of Ram, Sita and Lakshman, the Saryu aarti, and light, laser or drone shows over the river. The final programme and timings are announced by the Uttar Pradesh tourism department and the district administration in the days before, along with any passes needed for viewing areas, so check the official announcements before you travel.

Ram Mandir darshan around Deepotsav

Many visitors combine Deepotsav with darshan at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple. Expect very long queues from the Friday to the Monday of the Diwali weekend, and changes to entry and darshan timings on the busiest days. Go early in the morning, carry as little as possible (phones and bags may have to be deposited) and check the temple trust's current rules before you set out.

Crowds and getting around

• Outside vehicles are usually stopped well before the ghats on Deepotsav evening, and some roads become one-way or pedestrian only. Plan to walk.
• Reach a viewing spot by mid-afternoon; the ghats themselves are often reserved for volunteers and the lamps.
• Keep children and elders close and agree a meeting point. Mobile networks slow down in big crowds.
• Nights in early November are mild, around 15 to 18°C; carry water and a light shawl.

How to reach Ayodhya

Trains and flights fill early for the Diwali weekend, so book as soon as you can.

Where to stay for Deepotsav

Rooms in Ayodhya Dham, close to Ram Path, Naya Ghat and Ram ki Paidi, are the most convenient on the night but book out first. Ayodhya Cantt (Faizabad), a few kilometres away, has more choice and is a short ride in, though traffic restrictions on the evening can make the last stretch a walk. Lucknow is too far to come and go comfortably on the night. Pulp Hotels does not list stays in Ayodhya yet; if you own a hotel or guest house there, you can list it on Pulp Hotels free, with a flat 8% commission per booking.

Ramayana Yatra: Ayodhya and the Ram circuit

Many families come for Deepotsav as part of a longer pilgrimage. Pulp Hotels' sister company CareMyTrip runs guided tours from Lucknow that include Ayodhya: the Shri Ramayana Yatra follows the Ram circuit from Ayodhya through Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Varanasi and Gaya to Janakpur over 11 days, and the shorter Cultural Quadrangle of Awadh covers Ayodhya, Prayagraj, Varanasi and Gaya in seven. For dates around Deepotsav, call or WhatsApp CareMyTrip on +91 85274 56666.

Diwali elsewhere

If you would rather spend Diwali on the Ganga, see our guide to Diwali in Haridwar and Rishikesh, where Pulp lists verified hotels in Haridwar. Two weeks later, Kartik Purnima brings another night of lamps on the river; see our Kartik Purnima guide.