Deepotsav — Ayodhya’s Diwali-eve festival of lights — has its main 2026 evening reported for Friday 7 November, with Diwali itself on Sunday 8 November 2026.
The Times of India reported the 2026 programme on 24 September: a 2,100-drone show, laser displays, 3D projections, eco-friendly fireworks, a repeat drone show at Jamghat two days later, and a state target of ~30 lakh diyas lit along the Saryu ghats. One caveat up front: these are the government’s reported plans, not a gazetted programme — final timings land in UP government notifications closer to the date, and we will update this page when they do.
What happens, in sequence
| Element | Detail | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Main Deepotsav evening | Reported 7 Nov 2026, Ram ki Paidi / Saryu front | Reported (TOI, 24 Sep 2026) |
| Drone show | 2,100 drones; repeat at Jamghat two days later | Reported (TOI) |
| Diya target | ~30 lakh diyas across the ghats | Reported (TOI) |
| Theme gates | 13 Ramayan-themed gates | Reported (TOI) |
| Devotional programme | Bhajans from 4 AM | Reported (TOI) |
| Diwali | Sunday 8 November 2026 | Verified — official panchang |
What Deepotsav means for your plan
- Darshan competes with the city. The main evenings belong to the riverfront; temple queues run long and road controls reshape movement. Treat temple darshan on 6–8 November as opportunistic, not scheduled.
- Rooms vanish early. Temple-core stays sell out weeks ahead; prices multiply. Book the moment your dates fix — see the walking-distance stay guide.
- Trains and roads compress. The Purvanchal Expressway and Ram Path carry event traffic; arrive a day early if driving.
- Elders and small children need a riverfront strategy — fixed viewing spot, warm layers (November nights are cool), and no mid-crowd wandering. Our senior guide has the pacing frame.
- The free aarti pass still applies — booked only on the trust’s portal; expect them to go immediately for this window.
The pairing play: Deepotsav → Dev Deepawali
Seven districts away, Varanasi lights up for Dev Deepawali on Tuesday 24 November 2026 (Kartik Purnima — Drik Panchang). Pilgrims who can stretch the trip see both festivals on one North India run; the circuit plan connects the dots, and our Kashi Dev Deepawali guide covers that side.
Deepotsav planning checklist (lead magnet)
The printable checklist covers: bookings (stay, aarti pass, train), arrival timing, what to carry (layers, ID copies, power bank), riverfront viewing logistics, elder/child plan, and the post-festival quiet days. Get it as a PDF when you join Yatra Alerts — the alert list also pings you when the UP government’s final programme notification and any temple timing changes drop.
Frequently asked questions
When is Deepotsav 2026?
Main evening reported for 7 November 2026; Diwali is 8 November 2026 (TOI, 24 Sep 2026; Drik Panchang). Await the government’s final programme notification for timings.
Is Deepotsav the same night as Diwali?
Deepotsav is celebrated around Choti Diwali eve — a day before Diwali — with events often spilling across several days, including the Jamghat drone-show repeat (reported).
Is Deepotsav free to attend?
The riverfront programme is a public event; there is no ticket in anything we verified. Costs are stay and travel, which peak that week.
When is Dev Deepawali in Varanasi this year?
Tuesday, 24 November 2026 — three weeks after Deepotsav (Drik Panchang, checked 1 October 2026).
