Ahead of the grand Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday triggered a political controversy by questioning the government’s spending on lighting diyas and candles.
Yadav compared the celebrations to Christmas festivities abroad, saying, “Across the world, cities are illuminated during Christmas for months. We should learn from them. Why do we have to spend money on lamps and candles and overthink it?”
Criticising the state government, he added, “What can we expect from this government? It should be removed. We will ensure more beautiful lights in the future.”
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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swiftly responded, accusing the SP chief of continuing his party’s “anti-Hindu” stance. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, “A party with a history of opposing the Ram Mandir movement and keeping Ayodhya in darkness is now objecting to the city’s decoration for Deepotsav. They took pride in Saifai celebrations that didn’t help the public, but they criticise Ayodhya where thousands of small vendors earn a livelihood.”
Ayodhya Deepotsav 2025 Highlights
The ninth edition of Deepotsav has transformed Ayodhya into a spectacle of light, devotion, and technology. The celebrations began on October 17 and will peak with the lighting of 26,11,101 diyas across 56 ghats along the Saryu River, marking a record-breaking display of faith.
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This year’s Deepotsav features 2,100 Vedic scholars, 1,100 drones, and 33,000 volunteers, representing a blend of spiritual dedication and modern coordination.
Since its inception in 2017 with 1.71 lakh diyas, the festival has expanded fifteenfold, symbolising Ayodhya’s growing spiritual and cultural prominence. Newly developed ghats such as Rajghat, Guptarghat, and Laxman Kila Ghat have been included in the festivities, with intricate decorations, thematic facades, and illuminated roads creating a divine atmosphere across the city.
