Ayodhya: The 10th edition of Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026 will showcase a unique blend of faith, art and cultural diversity, with a grand sand sculpture of Lord Ram’s Darbar emerging as one of its major attractions. Created using 220 tonnes of sand sourced from the Saryu river, the 50-foot-long and 20-foot-high installation is being crafted near Ram Katha Park by internationally acclaimed sand artist Madhurendra Kumar from Bihar.
The magnificent artwork will feature the Ram Temple along with sculptures of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman. Through this creation, the artist aims to convey messages of peace, love and universal brotherhood. An application has also been submitted seeking recognition for the sculpture in world records.
Madhurendra Kumar has created more than 35,000 artworks using materials such as sand, ash, leaves, stones, metals and fruits. He has showcased his work in countries including Germany, Japan, Russia, the United States, Nepal and Bhutan. He has also earned recognition in the UN Book of World Records for creating 50 sand sculptures depicting different episodes from the life of Lord Buddha.
International Ramlila Teams to Perform
The festival will also bring together Ramlila traditions from different parts of the world. Four teams from three countries — South Africa, Sri Lanka and Laos — will perform during the celebrations. South Africa will have two participating teams, one presenting Ramcharitmanas recitations and the other staging Ramlila.
The participation of South African artists carries particular cultural significance. Descendants of Indian indentured labourers who migrated to South Africa generations ago have preserved their traditions, religious practices and the Ramayana narrative despite changing social circumstances. Their performances in Ayodhya will reflect the enduring cultural connection between the Indian diaspora and its ancestral heritage.
Artists from Sri Lanka and Laos will present the Ramayana through their respective cultural traditions, including distinctive costumes, music, dance and theatrical styles.
2,500 Artists to Perform Across 12 Stages
Around 2,500 Indian and international artists will participate in the celebrations across 12 stages being arranged by the Culture Department. These will include six small, four medium-sized and two large stages.
Artists from Assam, Bengal, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala will also present folk dances, music and performances based on the life and ideals of Lord Ram. The programme will bring together regional art forms and international interpretations of the Ramayana.
Ashutosh Dwivedi, adviser and special officer at the Ayodhya International Ramayana and Vedic Research Institute, said the participation of artists from different countries and Indian states would add cultural diversity to the festival while providing opportunities for local performers. The international participation is also expected to strengthen Ayodhya’s cultural identity and support tourism-related businesses.
Rangolis Add to Festive Preparations
Meanwhile, the approach road to Ram Katha Park is being decorated with colourful rangolis ahead of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s arrival at the main venue. Artists are creating elaborate designs featuring lotus flowers, ceremonial kalash, swastika symbols and traditional oil lamps.
The decorations, particularly around the area opposite Hotel Saryu Yatri Niwas, are intended to reflect India’s traditional art and cultural heritage.
With grand sand art, international Ramlila performances, regional folk traditions and elaborate decorations, Ayodhya’s 10th Deepotsav is set to present the city as a destination for both religious and cultural tourism, extending the reach of the Ramayana beyond national boundaries.
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