Ayodhya Diwali World Record Diyas: Year-by-Year List (2017–2026), How Diyas Are Counted & Deepotsav 2026 Guide

Last updated: 4 October 2026  |  By: Your Travel Partner, Ayodhya

Quick Answer

The current Ayodhya Diwali world record for diyas is 26,17,215 earthen lamps, lit on the ghats of the Saryu river during Deepotsav on 19 October 2025. On the same evening, 2,128 people performed the Saryu aarti together, which set a second Guinness World Record. The next Deepotsav will be held on 7 November 2026, and it will be the 10th edition of the festival.

Table of Contents

1. What Is Ayodhya Deepotsav?
2. Year-by-Year List of Ayodhya Diya Records
3. The 2025 Record in Detail
4. How Are the Diyas Counted?
5. Who Lights 26 Lakh Diyas?
6. Deepotsav 2026: Date, Target and What Is New
7. Best Places to Watch the Diyas
8. How to Plan Your Visit
9. Practical Tips for Deepotsav Day
10. Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Ayodhya Deepotsav?

Deepotsav is the grand festival of lights celebrated in Ayodhya one day before Diwali. It marks the return of Prabhu Shri Ram to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, when the people of the city lit rows of lamps to welcome him home. The Uttar Pradesh government started the modern Deepotsav in 2017, and it has been held every year since then.

What makes it famous across the world is its scale. Every year, lakhs of earthen diyas are arranged in neat patterns on the steps of Ram Ki Paidi and the nearby Saryu ghats and lit together at dusk. Each year the number has gone up, and that is why people search for the Ayodhya Diwali world record diyas count every Diwali season.

Year-by-Year List of Ayodhya Diya Records

Most websites only report one year. Here is the complete journey, from the first Deepotsav to the plan for 2026.

Note: Figures for the early years differ slightly between news reports, so they are shown as approximate. Figures for 2022, 2024 and 2025 are the counts reported for the Guinness World Records.

The growth in simple words: in nine editions, the number of diyas went from about 1.7 lakh to more than 26 lakh. That is roughly 15 times more lamps in eight years.

The 2025 Record in Detail

Deepotsav 2025 was held on 19 October 2025 and it set two Guinness World Records on the same evening:

• Largest display of oil lamps: 26,17,215 diyas lit on the Saryu ghats.
• Most people performing aarti together: 2,128 people took part in the Saryu aarti.

The Guinness World Records team verified the count using drones, and the certificates were presented in Ayodhya in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. This broke Ayodhya's own record from 2024, when 25,12,585 diyas were lit and 1,121 people performed the aarti together.

How Are the Diyas Counted for the World Record?

This is the question most people ask, and very few articles explain it. Here is how the process works:

1. Grid layout: Days before the event, the ghats are marked into blocks. Volunteers place a fixed number of diyas in each block, so the total can be calculated and checked.
2. Oil and wicks: On the day, volunteers fill each diya with oil and place a cotton wick.
3. Lighting together: At the given signal in the evening, volunteers light the diyas in their blocks within a short time window.
4. Staying lit: Only diyas that are burning during the counting window are included. For the 2022 record, for example, the diyas had to stay lit for at least five minutes.
5. Drone counting: The Guinness World Records team uses drone images of the ghats to verify the count block by block.
6. Announcement: Once the count is confirmed, the adjudicator announces the record and presents the certificate on stage.

This is why the number of diyas placed on the ghats is usually higher than the record number. Extra diyas are kept as a safety margin, because some may go out due to wind.

Who Lights 26 Lakh Diyas?

The diyas are lit by thousands of volunteers, most of them students. Volunteers from Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, its affiliated colleges and local organisations take up the work, with support from the district administration and the tourism department. They spend several days arranging the lamps and then light them together on Deepotsav evening.

The festival also supports local potters. Lakhs of earthen diyas are ordered from potter families in and around Ayodhya, which gives them important income before Diwali.

Deepotsav 2026: Date, Target and What Is New

Will Ayodhya break its own record again in 2026? Going by the plans announced so far, a new attempt is very likely. The final diya count and the full programme schedule are confirmed by the administration closer to the date, so check official updates on UP Tourism and the District Ayodhya website before you travel.

For the full schedule and timings, read our Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026 date, time and travel guide.

Best Places to Watch the Diyas

• Ram Ki Paidi: The main venue. The steps on both sides of the water channel are covered with diyas. This is where the record is counted, so entry to the central area is controlled.
• Naya Ghat and Saryu riverfront: A wide view of the river, the aarti and the lights. See our Saryu Aarti time and best place guide.
• Lata Mangeshkar Chowk and Ram Path: Decorated roads, lighting and tableaux. Good for families who want to avoid the thickest crowd.
• Guptar Ghat: Quieter and peaceful, a few kilometres from the main area.
• Live telecast: If you cannot travel, the event is shown live on Doordarshan and official social media channels.

How to Plan Your Visit

Reaching Ayodhya

• By air: Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya Dham. Book our airport pickup and drop in advance, because taxis are hard to find on Deepotsav.
• By train: Ayodhya Dham Junction and Ayodhya Cantt. Use our railway station pickup.
• By road: From Lucknow, Varanasi, Prayagraj or Gorakhpur, book an outstation cab.

Moving inside the city

Many roads near Ram Ki Paidi and Ram Mandir are closed to vehicles on Deepotsav day. An e-rickshaw is the easiest way to reach the nearest permitted point, and the last stretch is on foot.

Stay and packages

Hotels near the ghats fill up weeks before Diwali. Book early, or choose one of our Ayodhya Deepotsav and darshan packages with hotel and local transport included.

Ram Mandir darshan during Deepotsav

Darshan at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir is free. Sugam Darshan and Aarti passes are also completely free and are booked only on the official Trust portal, online.srjbtkshetra.org. Never pay anyone for a pass.

Practical Tips for Deepotsav Day

• Reach the ghat area by early afternoon. Entry points get crowded well before sunset.
• Wear comfortable footwear, because you will walk a lot.
• Keep children and elders close and fix a meeting point in case someone gets separated.
• Carry a water bottle and a light shawl, as November evenings by the river are cool.
• Do not step on or move the diyas. Every lamp is part of the count.
• Follow police and volunteer instructions and use only the marked entry and exit routes.
• Watching Deepotsav from public areas is free. If any pass system is announced, it will come from the administration. Do not buy "VIP passes" from agents or websites.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Ayodhya Diwali world record for diyas?

The current record is 26,17,215 diyas, lit during Deepotsav on 19 October 2025 on the Saryu ghats in Ayodhya.

2. How many diyas were lit in Ayodhya in 2024?

25,12,585 diyas were lit on 30 October 2024 across 55 ghats. It was the first Deepotsav after the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha.

3. How many world records did Ayodhya set in 2025?

Two. One for the largest display of oil lamps (26,17,215 diyas) and one for the most people performing aarti together (2,128 people).

4. When is Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026?

Deepotsav 2026 will be held on 7 November 2026, one day before Diwali, which falls on 8 November 2026.

5. How many diyas will be lit in Ayodhya in 2026?

Officials have said more than 26 lakh diyas will be lit, and some reports mention a target of around 30 lakh. The final number is confirmed closer to the event.

6. Who counts the diyas for the world record?

A team from Guinness World Records verifies the count on the spot, using drone images of the ghats.

7. Who lights the diyas in Ayodhya?

Thousands of volunteers, mainly students of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University and affiliated colleges, with support from the administration.

8. Where are the diyas lit in Ayodhya?

Mainly at Ram Ki Paidi and the nearby ghats along the Saryu river.

9. When did Deepotsav start in Ayodhya?

The first Deepotsav was held in 2017. The 2026 celebration is the 10th edition.

10. Is there an entry fee to watch Deepotsav?

No. Watching Deepotsav from public areas is free. Entry to some central zones may be regulated by the administration for crowd safety.

11. What time are the diyas lit?

The diyas are lit in the evening around sunset. The exact time is announced in the official schedule each year.

12. Can I visit Ram Mandir on Deepotsav day?

Yes, darshan continues as per the Trust's schedule, but expect heavy crowds and road diversions. Book your free pass on the official Trust portal in advance.

Conclusion

From about 1.7 lakh lamps in 2017 to 26,17,215 in 2025, the Ayodhya Diwali world record diyas story is one of the most remarkable festival achievements in the world. With the 10th Deepotsav on 7 November 2026, Ayodhya is ready to shine again. If you want to see it with your own eyes, plan early.

For hotels, cabs and complete Deepotsav trip planning, call or WhatsApp +91 78811 55800 or see our Ayodhya packages.

Sources

• All India Radio News: Deepotsav 2025 record
• All India Radio News: Deepotsav 2024 record
• Guinness World Records
• Uttar Pradesh Tourism

Note: Dates, diya targets and programme details for 2026 are based on announcements made so far and may change. Please check official sources before travelling. Your Travel Partner is a private travel service.