Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurates Deepotsav in Ayodhya

Vice-President of India, C. P. Radhakrishnan, inaugurated the Deepotsav 2026 celebrations at Ram Ki Paidi in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, today. He witnessed the spectacular illumination of the ghats with millions of diyas, cultural presentations depicting the Ramayana and musical fireworks. He also participated in the sacred Saryu Aarti at Naya Ghat.

Addressing the gathering at Ram Ki Paidi, the Vice-President highlighted the remarkable growth of Deepotsav since its inception in 2017, when over 1.7 lakh lamps were illuminated. He said that the celebration reached over 26 lakh lamps in 2025, while its tenth edition envisaged more than 30 lakh diyas at Ram Ki Paidi and over 70 lakh across Ayodhya. He congratulated the Uttar Pradesh Government for taking the festival to national and international prominence.

The Vice-President appreciated the festival’s contribution to local livelihoods, creating opportunities for potters, rural women, artisans, performers, hotel and homestay operators, guides and transport providers. He also welcomed the innovative use of technology, including more than 2,100 indigenous drones depicting scenes from the Ramayana and the participation of around 1,000 artists in cultural programmes.(updated on 7th November 2026)