Updated 8 November 2026: corrected the Bhai Dooj date to Wednesday, 11 November (an earlier version said 10 November).
Ayodhya lit more than 30 lakh earthen lamps on Saturday evening. The lamps covered 56 ghats along the Saryu river. It was the 10th Deepotsav, the city’s grand lamp festival on the eve of Diwali. Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan was the chief guest.
Updated: 8 November 2026, 10:30 AM IST
Quick Read
- Over 30 lakh diyas were lit across 56 Saryu ghats in Ayodhya on Saturday, 7 November, for the 10th Deepotsav.
- More than 35,000 volunteers lit the lamps; one lakh more diyas lit up the Ram Janmabhoomi temple premises.
- The 30-lakh count is the reported figure — no official certified count had been announced by late Saturday night, so it is not called a record yet.
A river of light
The main lighting happened at sunset on Saturday. More than 35,000 volunteers had spent days placing the diyas in neat rows along the ghats. Ram Ki Paidi, the main ghat, glowed first. Then the light spread across all 56 ghats.
One lakh more diyas lit up the premises of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. The Vice President and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered prayers and performed aarti to Lord Ram and Goddess Sita at Ram Katha Park, where the main programme was held. Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel was there too. Saints and thousands of devotees filled the ghats.
Deepotsav marks the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya after 14 years in exile, the homecoming that Diwali celebrates. The festival recreates the welcome the people of the city are believed to have given him in the Treta Yuga.
The five-day programme began on 5 November and runs through 9 November. A drone show is planned for Ayodhya residents on 9 November. The celebrations also include 3D projection mapping, laser shows and Ramlila performances.
Not a record — not yet
Here is the careful part. Last year, in 2025, Ayodhya lit 26.17 lakh diyas. That count was certified, and it set a Guinness World Record. This year’s 30 lakh-plus would beat it by a wide margin.
But no official certified count had been announced by late Saturday night. No Guinness adjudicator’s count appeared in the reports read that night. The 30-lakh figure comes from the organisers’ target and from reporters on the ground, carried by the New Indian Express and PTI.
So we are not calling it a record. Not yet. If the certified count comes in above 26.17 lakh, it will be a record. Until then, it is a reported figure. That is the honest way to say it.
Also read: Diwali 2026 date: full 5-day guide
Ten years of Deepotsav — our own count
| Year | Diyas lit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | ~1.71 lakh | First Deepotsav |
| 2025 | 26.17 lakh | Guinness World Record, certified |
| 2026 | 30 lakh+ | Reported on the night; not yet certified |
This table is our own count, put together from the New Indian Express report. The growth is hard to miss. From 1.71 lakh lamps in 2017 to more than 30 lakh in 2026 — that is about 17 times more in ten years.
Our own maths: 30 lakh minus 26.17 lakh is 3.83 lakh more lamps than last year. That is about 15% more. And with 35,000 volunteers lighting 30 lakh diyas, each volunteer handled about 86 lamps on average. That is the scale of the work behind one evening of light.
Speaking at the gathering, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “Ayodhya has come alive once more, evoking the memories of the Treta Yuga”, per PTI. He also said Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who is due at the Ram Temple on 12 December, should first apologise to Ram devotees.
PM Modi spends Diwali with soldiers — again
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will spend Diwali with soldiers this year, continuing a tradition he began in 2014 at Siachen. This is the 12th year in a row. Last year, in 2025, he celebrated aboard INS Vikrant.
Where he will be this year has not been disclosed. As of this morning, no location had been announced. His post on X this morning read: “Diwali wishes to everyone! Boundless Diwali wishes to my family members across the country.”
President Droupadi Murmu greeted the nation on the eve of Diwali. Vice President Radhakrishnan met the Prime Minister on Saturday to exchange greetings, before travelling to Ayodhya as chief guest.
Lakshmi Puja tonight
Today is the main day of Diwali — Sunday, 8 November, Kartik Amavasya. Lakshmi Puja, the evening prayer for wealth and good fortune, is tonight.
In Delhi, the Lakshmi Puja muhurat is 5:54 pm to 7:50 pm — one hour and 56 minutes, in the Vrishabha Kaal. Pradosh Kaal runs 5:31 pm to 8:09 pm. Amavasya Tithi began at 11:27 am today and ends at 12:31 pm tomorrow.
Other cities: Mumbai 6:27–8:27 pm, Kolkata 5:20–7:18 pm, Chennai 6:07–8:09 pm, Bengaluru 6:17–8:20 pm, Pune 6:24–8:24 pm. (Note: 6:27–8:27 pm is Mumbai’s time, not Delhi’s — one aggregator mislabelled it.)
The festival continues after today. Govardhan Puja’s evening tradition falls tomorrow, 9 November, with the main morning puja on Tuesday, 10 November. Bhai Dooj is on Wednesday, 11 November.
Also read: Dhanteras 2026 puja muhurat guide
Diwali beyond Ayodhya
Ayodhya was not the only city glowing. In Mathura, the Shri Krishna Janmasthan lit 1,008 lamps on Saturday. In Puri, the Jagannath Temple’s early-morning Mangal Aarti drew thousands of devotees. Temples and landmarks across India lit up, and devotees gathered for prayers from morning.
Back in Ayodhya, devotees took a holy dip at Saryu Ghat on Sunday morning after the Maha Aarti. The river that carried the lamps last night carried the prayers this morning.
For most families, though, Diwali is at home tonight: the puja, the diyas at the door, the sweets, the family. Ayodhya’s 30 lakh lamps are the big picture. The small lamp at your own door is the same festival.
FAQ
Q: How many diyas were lit in Ayodhya for Deepotsav 2026?
A: More than 30 lakh earthen lamps were lit across 56 ghats on the Saryu on Saturday, 7 November, with over 35,000 volunteers. It is the reported figure; no official certified count had been announced by late Saturday night, so it is not yet called a record.
Q: What was the last certified Ayodhya Deepotsav record?
A: In 2025, 26.17 lakh diyas were lit, setting a Guinness World Record. The first Deepotsav in 2017 lit about 1.71 lakh diyas.
Q: Where is PM Modi celebrating Diwali 2026?
A: He is continuing his tradition of spending Diwali with soldiers — the 12th year running, after Siachen in 2014 and INS Vikrant in 2025. The location for 2026 had not been disclosed as of Sunday morning.
Also read
- Diwali 2026 date: full 5-day guide
- Dhanteras 2026 puja muhurat guide
- Delhi green firecrackers: timings, QR check and the 300-metre rule
Sources
- New Indian Express — Ayodhya lights up with over 30 lakh diyas for 10th Deepotsav (primary source for the headline figure): https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/uttar-pradesh/2026/Nov/07/ayodhya-lights-up-with-over-30-lakh-diyas-for-10th-deepotsav
- Times of India — PM Modi to continue Diwali tradition with jawans: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modi-to-continue-diwali-tradition-with-jawans-extends-wishes-to-people-across-country/articleshow/135649642.cms
- New Indian Express — Diwali illuminates temples, landmarks across India: https://www.newindianexpress.com/india/2026/Nov/08/diwali-illuminates-temples-landmarks-across-india-as-devotees-gather-for-prayers-and-celebrations
- Business Today — Diwali 2026 Lakshmi Puja timings in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and other cities: https://www.businesstoday.in/amp/india/story/diwali-2026-lakshmi-puja-timings-in-delhi-mumbai-kolkata-chennai-and-other-cities-566324-2026-11-07
Sasanka Sekhar Pradhan is the founder of India Presents, an India-focused news site. He covers daily box-office trackers, India news, economy explainers, sports previews and festival guides — in simple English, so readers across India can follow fast-moving stories without jargon. His focus is what a story means for the reader: the number that matters, the source behind it, and what happens next. India Presents publishes daily, with day-trackers updated as new figures come in.
