Ayodhya Deepotsav will add a scheduled 2,100-drone presentation to this year’s festival, with the unmanned aircraft set to form Ramayan-themed images above Ayodhya on November 9, 2026. The Uttar Pradesh tourism department said the separate aerial program will be reserved exclusively for Ayodhya residents.
The drone display is part of a broader festival program running from November 5 to 9. Organizers are combining aerial formations with augmented reality, projection mapping, laser effects and live cultural performances, using Ram Ki Paidi and its riverfront setting as an active part of the presentation.
Aerial show follows the main festival program
The principal stage program 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, with the story presented through dance, music and Hindi narration. A floating stage, human aerial acts and moving props are also planned.
A separate combined presentation will depict Lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya through an eight-minute laser show and a 20-minute projection-mapping presentation. The two elements are planned to run for 28 minutes in total. Three additional public performances are scheduled for November 7, followed by four more on November 8.
“Projection mapping, lasers, aerial acts and live performances will bring Indian tradition and modern technology together to tell the story of Lord Ram’s return,” said tourism and culture minister Jaiveer Singh.
Mobile AR experience expands the visual program
The tourism department is also developing a location-based application for iOS and Android devices. Visitors at Ram Ki Paidi will be able to scan designated locations and view five three-dimensional scenes from the Ramayan against the physical surroundings. The application is intended to let visitors record and share those scenes on social media.
The augmented-reality feature will operate only within the Ram Ki Paidi area, making the riverfront site part of the digital experience rather than simply a backdrop. The department is preparing new visuals, music, animation and a revised storyboard for the projection presentation, which officials said is being designed particularly for Gen Z audiences.
- Festival: Ayodhya Deepotsav
- Drone presentation: November 9, with 2,100 Made-in-India drones
- Main program: November 7, with more than 100 folk and classical artists
- Additional visual elements: augmented reality, lasers and projection mapping
The festival was initially planned as a four-day event ending November 8. Cultural activities and events were later extended to November 9 following demands from local representatives, allowing the drone presentation to form a separate closing element of the expanded program.
