Ayodhya Deepotsav will combine augmented reality, projection mapping, laser performances and a 2,100-drone show as Uttar Pradesh expands the festival into a technology-led public experience from November 5 to 9.
The main digital addition will be a location-based mobile application being developed by the Uttar Pradesh tourism department for iOS and Android devices. Visitors at Ram Ki Paidi will be able to scan designated spots and view five three-dimensional scenes from the Ramayan against the physical surroundings. The application will also allow users to record and share the experience on social media.
The AR feature will function only within Ram Ki Paidi, linking the digital content to a specific public space rather than offering it as a standalone mobile experience. The tourism department is positioning the installation as part of the visitor experience at one of Ayodhya’s principal riverfront locations.
The festival’s main programme is scheduled for November 7 in the presence of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. It will feature more than 100 folk and classical artists, along with a floating stage, human aerial acts and moving props. The performance will use dance, music and Hindi narration to depict Lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya.
An eight-minute laser show and a 20-minute projection-mapping presentation will form a combined 28-minute spectacle. According to the report, organisers are preparing fresh visuals, music, animation and a revised storyboard for the programme. Three additional public shows are planned after the main programme on November 7, while four shows are scheduled for November 8.
The tourism and culture minister, Jaiveer Singh, said the presentations were being designed particularly for Gen Z audiences. He said projection mapping, lasers, aerial acts and live performances would bring Indian tradition and modern technology together to tell the story of Lord Ram’s return.
The festival schedule has also been extended beyond the originally planned four days. Following demands from local representatives, the tourism department and the district administration agreed to continue cultural activities and celebrations on November 9, a day after Diwali.
A separate presentation featuring 2,100 drones made in India will be held on November 9 exclusively for Ayodhya residents. The drones are expected to form Ramayan-themed images in the sky, creating the festival’s largest technology-based public spectacle.
Additional chief secretary for tourism, culture and religious affairs Amrit Abhijat said the initiative was intended to offer pilgrims and tourists from India and abroad a memorable experience of Ayodhya’s faith and cultural heritage. The programme places a digital layer over the city’s religious and cultural attractions, while keeping Ram Ki Paidi and other public venues at the centre of the celebrations.
The tourism department’s application, live performances, projection mapping and drone show will be rolled out across the scheduled events from November 5 to 9, with the main programme on November 7 and the residents-only drone presentation on November 9.
