The holy city of Ayodhya is preparing to script another golden chapter in its spiritual legacy as it readies for Deepotsav 2025, a festival that has grown from a state celebration into a global cultural phenomenon. This year, the banks of the Saryu river will glow with the light of millions of lamps — each flame symbolising not just devotion to Lord Ram but also the spirit of unity that transcends borders, from October 17 to 20.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the ninth edition of Deepotsav promises to be one of the grandest yet, with an International Ramlila that will see participation from artistes representing five countries — Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The event underscores Ayodhya’s evolution into a global spiritual and cultural hub, where art, faith, and diplomacy converge.
In total, 90 international artistes will reimagine episodes from the Ramayana, merging their distinct cultural expressions with the timeless Indian epic. From Russia, fifteen performers will bring to life the divine union of Ram and Sita in the Swayamvara scene, blending Russian theatrical elegance with Indian mysticism. Thailand’s troupe of ten will dramatize the fierce encounters of Shurpanakha, Maricha, and the climactic battle between Ram and Ravana through their classical dance-drama traditions.
Indonesia’s delegation will recreate the burning of Lanka and Ram’s triumphant return to Ayodhya — a moment that has inspired Southeast Asian interpretations of the epic for centuries. Nepal’s thirty-three performers will showcase Lakshmana’s valor, offering a narrative shift beyond Sita’s perspective and reinforcing the shared spiritual lineage between the two nations. Completing the tableau, twenty-two Sri Lankan artistes will present Ravaneshwara, portraying Ravana not merely as the antagonist but as a revered figure in their cultural imagination.
According to Ashutosh Dwivedi, Advisor and Special Officer at the Ayodhya International Ramayana and Vedic Research Institute, the international Ramlila — scheduled from October 17 to 20 — seeks to preserve the sanctity of the Ramayana while promoting global harmony through Indian values.
As the city’s 56 ghats and temples are illuminated with millions of diyas, Deepotsav 2025 will transcend spectacle to become a living embodiment of cultural diplomacy. In the glow of those sacred lamps, Ayodhya will once again affirm its place as the soul of a luminous and united world, where devotion and art speak a universal language.
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