Grandeur of Deepotsav under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership gives a boost to tourism and local businesses
Hotels report 100 percent occupancy, cab operators see manifold increase in earnings as tourist footfall drives commercial activity in markets
Daily earnings of shopkeepers, who normally make ₹800 to ₹1,000, rise to ₹2,500 to ₹3,000
Sales of prasad, jewellery, garlands and food items surge, creating better earning opportunities for small traders
Ayodhya, November 2026 : Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Ayodhya’s Deepotsav is increasingly emerging as a major opportunity for expanding tourism and local businesses, alongside celebrating religious faith. The dazzling celebrations have not only illuminated the banks of the Saryu and the city’s temples but have also brought a new glow to its markets.
With a significant increase in the number of devotees and tourists, hotels, cab services, eateries and local shops have witnessed a surge in customers, creating opportunities for businesses to earn more. While hotels reported full occupancy, shops remained busy with customers throughout the day. For traders dealing in prasad, jewellery, garlands and food items, the week proved markedly different from normal days.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has given Deepotsav a grand scale by positioning it as an integral part of Ayodhya’s cultural identity and an attraction for global tourism. The arrival of devotees and tourists from across India and abroad during the celebrations reflects the growing tourism activity in the temple town.
Along with the grandeur of the religious event, the increased tourist footfall has created new opportunities for local businesses. The surge in activity across hotels, transport services and markets reflects this transformation.
The increase in tourist footfall during Deepotsav week was clearly reflected in the hospitality sector. Ayush, manager of Hotel Divine Ayodhya, said, "The hotel recorded nearly 100 percent occupancy during the week, compared to normal days. The growing influx of tourists led to a substantial rise in demand for rooms, making the Deepotsav week particularly beneficial for the hotel business."
The increased movement of tourists has also given a boost to local transport services. Demand for vehicles rose as visitors travelled to the Ram Temple, Hanumangarhi, Saryu ghats and other religious sites. Shobhit Tiwari, a cab operator, said, "Business was particularly good during Deepotsav, with my earnings increasing threefold. The rise in tourist arrivals created better opportunities for cab services. The movement of visitors between hotels, religious sites and different parts of the city added to the festive momentum in the transport sector."
The most striking impact of Deepotsav is evident in the experiences of small traders. Saurabh Singh, who runs a chaat stall, said he normally earned ₹800 to ₹1,000 a day, but his daily income rose to ₹2,500 to ₹3,000 during Deepotsav. The increase in the number of customers gave his business fresh momentum.
For Deepak Kumar, a vendor selling prasad, Deepotsav also proved beneficial from a business perspective. He said, "Sales remained strong during the celebrations, resulting in good profits." Sanjay Yadav, a prasad seller from Patna, said business was considerably better during Deepotsav, with his daily earnings reaching ₹2,500 to ₹3,000.
Veena, who sells bangles and garlands, was also pleased with the increase in business during Deepotsav. According to her, sales were good during the event and she made better profits. Purchases by devotees created opportunities for small shopkeepers to improve their earnings as well.
Under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership, the grandeur of Deepotsav has helped establish Ayodhya as a prominent religious tourism destination. The influx of tourists during the celebrations activated a wide network of economic activity, ranging from hotel accommodation and local transport to food services and shopping in markets. Alongside its enduring spiritual significance, Ayodhya is witnessing renewed momentum in tourism and local business activity.
