Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 6 (ANI): As Ayodhya gears up for its 10th Deepotsav, the holy city is immersed in a festive spirit, with artists bringing characters from the Ramayana to life, volunteers arranging lakhs of earthen lamps and devotees arriving from different parts of the country to witness the grand celebrations.
The preparations for Deepotsav 2026 are in full swing, with more than 30 lakh diyas being arranged across the ghats along the Saryu river. The entire city is being decorated with elaborate lighting and colourful decorations, while rehearsals for the grand tableaux featuring episodes from the Ramayana have also begun.
Among those preparing for the celebrations are artists portraying Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lord Hanuman and Lakshman. For many of them, being part of the celebrations in the birthplace of Lord Ram is a matter of immense pride and devotion.
Mohammad Islam, who has been coming from Barabanki to portray Lord Hanuman, said he has been associated with the Deepotsav celebrations since their inception and has played different characters over the years.
"I feel very good being part of this celebration. I have been associated with the Ramleela for 17-18 years and have been coming to Ayodhya since Deepotsav started. I have portrayed different characters over the years. Lord Ram belongs to everyone; he is not limited to any one person or community," he told ANI.
Kanak Soni, who has come from Lucknow to portray Goddess Sita, also expressed happiness over being part of the celebrations.
"I feel very happy portraying the character of Lord Ram," she said.
The enthusiasm is equally visible among volunteers, who are working tirelessly to ensure that the arrangements are completed on time. At Ram Ki Paidi, volunteers are carefully placing diyas in designated patterns, filling them with oil and preparing them for the grand lighting ceremony.
Adarsh Tiwari, a volunteer from Ayodhya supervising arrangements, said around 35,000 volunteers are working towards the preparations, with this year's target set at approximately 30 to 35 lakh diyas.
"The number of diyas is being increased every year. This time, our target is to light around 30 to 35 lakh diyas, for which 35,000 volunteers are working. I am supervising the arrangements at Ghat No. 28. Every year, something new is introduced to make the celebrations grander. This time, a stage has been constructed, which is different from previous years. A drone show is also part of the celebrations," he said.
The celebrations have also attracted visitors from distant parts of the country, many of whom are witnessing the preparations in person after following the event on television and social media for years.
Madhurya Varah, who travelled from Assam's Golaghat district, said visiting Ayodhya for Deepotsav had been a long-cherished dream.
"Ever since Deepotsav began during Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's tenure, I had a dream of coming here and witnessing it myself. This time, my dream has come true. The preparations are almost complete, and the entire place has been beautifully decorated and made ready for everyone. I cannot express my happiness in words," he said.
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said he was delighted to witness the grand preparations in Ayodhya.
Another visitor from Assam, Rupjyoti Dutta, who arrived with his family, said the arrangements had exceeded his expectations.
"It feels wonderful to be here with my family. What we had imagined about Deepotsav is even more beautiful in reality. It feels like a dream come true. I had never thought that I would get an opportunity to come here and witness these celebrations in person," he said.
Meanwhile, preparations for the grand tableaux depicting different episodes from the Ramayana have reached their final stage, with rehearsals commencing on Friday. Artists and organisers are working to ensure that the presentations add to the spiritual and cultural grandeur of the event.
The main Deepotsav celebrations will be held on November 7 in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The government is aiming to create another world record with the lighting of more than 30 lakh earthen lamps.
With artists, volunteers and visitors coming together for the occasion, Ayodhya is preparing to celebrate its 10th Deepotsav in an atmosphere filled with devotion, enthusiasm and cultural fervour. (ANI)
Ayodhya gears up for 10th Deepotsav, artists bring Ramayana characters to life
