Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan will travel to Ayodhya on Saturday, November 7, 2026, to take part in Deepotsav 2026, according to an official statement reported by the news agency IANS. The visit comes on the eve of Diwali, which falls on Sunday, November 8 this year.

Source: IANS via The Freedom Press

During the visit, the Vice-President will offer prayers at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, take part in the symbolic coronation ceremony of Shri Ram and felicitate revered saints, the official statement said.

Source: IANS via The Freedom Press

This year's Deepotsav is the tenth edition of the festival, which marks the return of Shri Ram to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. The 2026 celebrations began on Thursday, November 5, with the riverbanks already illuminated with lakhs of diyas in the build-up to Saturday evening's main lighting, IANS reported.

Source: IANS via The Freedom Press

33 lakhTarget for earthen diyas to be lit across Ayodhya's ghats
56Ghats along the Saryu river included in the lighting
10thEdition of Deepotsav, held every year on the eve of Diwali
2,100Indigenously built drones in the planned Ramayana-themed light show

Record-scale preparations at Ram Ki Paidi

Organisers are aiming to light more than 30 to 33 lakh earthen diyas across 56 ghats, with Ram Ki Paidi as the primary centre and the banks of the Saryu river carrying the main illumination, the official statement said, as also reported by Nation Press.

Source: Nation Press

A 2,100-drone light show, using indigenously manufactured drones to narrate the Ramayana in the sky, is planned as part of the evening programme, and the drone team has been running continuous rehearsals ahead of the show. The final rehearsal for the mass aarti at Saryu Ghat was completed on Friday, Khelja reported.

Source: Khelja

Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi said all arrangements had been made for the event and that President Droupadi Murmu would attend as chief guest, with the Vice-President and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also attending, according to Khelja. The official statement reported by IANS confirmed the Vice-President's programme; Awaaz Punjab has not independently confirmed the President's attendance.

Source: Khelja

What happens this evening

The main lamp-lighting is scheduled for Saturday evening at Ram Ki Paidi and the surrounding ghats, alongside the Saryu maha aarti and the drone show. Deepotsav has grown with each edition since it began a decade ago, and organisers say this year's diya target is the highest so far. The final count of lamps lit will be known only after the evening programme concludes.