After the grand construction of the Ram Mandir, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is now set to give Ayodhya another cultural marvel ‘Deepotsav Village’, a unique settlement that will celebrate and sustain the traditions of pottery and earthen lamp making. The land for this dream project has been finalised, adding a new chapter to ayodhya’s spiritual and cultural transformation. The Deepotsav Village will be established near Ramchaura Gauraghat, believed to be the first resting place of Lord Ram during his exile. Situated along the ancient and sacred Tamasa River, close to Gyaspur village in Tarun block, the site was chosen after months of land surveys by district officials.
This village will not only act as a supply center for clay lamps (diyas) used during Ayodhya’s world-famous Deepotsav celebrations but will also become a living museum of traditional pottery and artisan life. The project has received an initial allocation of Rs 2.5 crores.
The village will be home to skilled potters who have for generations supplied earthen lamps for religious festivities. These artisans, mostly from the surrounding Gram Sabha, will be allotted tin-roofed workshops and small shops in the village, where they can both create and sell beautifully crafted diyas and earthenware.
The design and land selection for the project were overseen by Assistant Engineer Ratnesh Kumar and Urban Architect Ankit Shukla from Lucknow, with land formally allocated by the Department of Tourism.
According to Shailendra Pratap Singh, Personal Secretary to the Executive Engineer of the Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam, potters from the same Gram Sabha will be given priority for shop allocation. The goal is to turn this site into a vibrant cultural hub where visitors can see pottery-making live, learn about rural artisan life, and purchase traditional products directly from the makers to avoid any commissions.
The announcement of the Deepotsav Village has brought joy to local potters, who see this as a long-awaited recognition of their craft. The Tourism Department has begun collecting documents such as Aadhaar cards and bank passbooks from eligible potter families to process allocations.
Krishna Kumar Prajapati from Dilip Pur said that until now, he only made basic diyas and small pots, but with this platform, he plans to expand into more artistic designs. Another potter, Ramteerath Prajapati from Sakatpur, said that he gladly submitted the requested documents and expressed gratitude to the Yogi government for supporting traditional livelihoods.
Once completed, Deepotsav Village is expected to become a popular tourist attraction, especially during the annual Deepotsav, which draws global attention for lighting lakhs of earthen lamps along the banks of the Saryu. The village will enhance Ayodhya’s appeal by offering a unique blend of heritage, livelihood, and live craft demonstrations, making it a key feature in the city’s spiritual tourism map.
