Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the Deepotsav 2026 celebrations at Ram Ki Paidi in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, on November 7, 2026. The event featured the illumination of the ghats with millions of diyas, cultural presentations depicting the Ramayana, musical fireworks, and sacred Saryu Aarti at Naya Ghat.
The Vice-President highlighted the remarkable growth of Deepotsav since its inception in 2017, when over 1.7 lakh lamps were illuminated. 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 festival's contribution to local livelihoods was noted, creating opportunities for potters, rural women, artisans, performers, hotel and homestay operators, guides, and transport providers. Technological innovations included more than 2,100 indigenous drones depicting scenes from the Ramayana and participation of around 1,000 artists in cultural programmes.
The Vice-President described Ayodhya as an example of 'Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi', noting development of roads, ghats, pilgrimage facilities, accommodation, and improved rail and air connectivity that transformed the experience of pilgrims and visitors. The celebrations were attended by Governor of Uttar Pradesh Smt. Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Ministers Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya and Shri Brajesh Pathak, ministers, saints, and other distinguished guests.