This blog is for our friends who don’t know anything about Ram ji and Ayodhya.

It is believed that the time period of these events is more than 5000 years back.

And Ram is a part of indian identity.

THE NIGHT WHEN MILLIONS OF LAMPS WELCOMED RAM HOME

Journey through India’s Diwali celebrations, the timeless story of Lord Ram, and the magical spectacle of 3 million earthen lamps along the sacred Sarayu River.

By Binnu | Wandering with Nikhil

Come, let me take you to a place where an entire city celebrates the return of its beloved prince.

Have you ever waited fourteen years for someone to come home?

Fourteen years!

Imagine waiting without a telephone, without the internet, without a photograph arriving on your phone, and without knowing exactly when your loved one would return.

Now imagine an entire city waiting like that.

Imagine millions of people celebrating one homecoming.

Imagine every street glowing with lamps, every temple ringing with bells, and an entire riverfront turning into a sea of golden light.

Sounds magical?

It is.

Welcome to Ayodhya, India.

The birthplace of Lord Ram.

And tonight, my friend, I want to take you on a journey.

Not an ordinary sightseeing tour.

I want you to experience a festival that brings together mythology, history, faith, family, music, food, colour and an extraordinary sense of belonging.

It is called Diwali.

And there is a beautiful story behind it.

So, come along.

I am Binnu, your companion for this journey.

Let’s begin!

First, let me introduce you to Ram.

Before we walk through Ayodhya, there is someone you should know.

His name is Ram.

For millions of Hindus around the world, Lord Ram represents an ideal of righteousness, compassion, courage, duty and integrity.

His story is told in the Ramayana, one of India’s most cherished ancient epics.

It is a story of love, loyalty, sacrifice, friendship, adventure and the eternal struggle between good and evil.

Ram was born into the royal family of Ayodhya.

He was the eldest son of King Dasharatha and the beloved prince of the kingdom.

His wife was Sita, a woman celebrated for her courage, dignity and devotion.

His younger brother Lakshman was his closest companion.

Everything seemed perfect.

A prince loved by his people.

A kingdom at peace.

A royal family preparing for a coronation.

But destiny had other plans.

Because sometimes, the greatest stories begin when everything goes wrong.

Fourteen years in the forest

On the eve of Ram’s coronation, a promise made by his father forced him to leave the kingdom.

He was sentenced to fourteen years of exile.

And Ram accepted it.

Without rebellion.

Without bitterness.

He chose to honour his father’s word.

Sita decided to accompany him.

So did Lakshman.

The three left the royal palace and began a life in the forests.

Think about that for a moment.

A prince giving up his kingdom.

A princess leaving behind the comforts of the palace.

A younger brother choosing to share every hardship.

What an extraordinary family!

Back in Ayodhya, the people were heartbroken.

Ram’s younger brother Bharat refused to occupy the throne in his absence. He placed Ram’s sandals on the royal throne and governed the kingdom as his brother’s representative.

The kingdom continued.

But its heart was somewhere else.

The Ramayana describes this world of sacrifice and duty.

And the Ramcharitmanas, a much-loved retelling of the Ramayana by the poet Tulsidas, gives us this beautiful verse:

रघुकुल रीति सदा चलि आई।
प्राण जाहुँ बरु बचनु न जाई॥

It means:

“In the tradition of the Raghu dynasty, even life may be sacrificed, but a promise must never be broken.”

This is one of the central values associated with Ram.

And this is where the fourteen-year journey began.

The friendship that crossed an ocean

But the forest journey was not going to be easy.

During the exile, Sita was abducted by Ravana, the powerful king of Lanka.

Ram and Lakshman began searching for her.

And then came a character who deserves a story of his own.

Hanuman.

If you ask me, Hanuman is one of the most fascinating figures in the entire Ramayana.

He is a divine being with extraordinary strength, intelligence and courage. He is also the greatest symbol of devotion and selfless service.

He becomes Ram’s most trusted messenger and companion.

He crosses the ocean in search of Sita.

He finds her in Lanka.

He delivers Ram’s message.

He helps build the bridge to Lanka.

And he plays a vital role in the battle against Ravana.

Ram is also joined by Sugriva, Jambavan, Angad and an army of vanara warriors.

Vanaras are extraordinary forest-dwelling beings, traditionally depicted with monkey-like features in the epic.

Together, they fight against Ravana’s forces.

The battle is eventually won.

Ravana is defeated.

Sita is reunited with Ram.

And the long exile comes to an end.

Now comes the moment we have all been waiting for.

Ram is returning home!

Imagine Ayodhya on that unforgettable evening

Come, let’s travel back thousands of years.

We are now in Treta Yuga, the age in which the traditional Hindu account places the events of the Ramayana.

The sun is setting.

Ayodhya is preparing for something extraordinary.

People are cleaning their homes.

Women are decorating doorways with colourful patterns called rangoli.

Flowers are being arranged.

Food is being prepared.

Little earthen lamps are being placed outside houses.

Children are running through the streets.

An old woman is sitting near her doorway.

She has a little lamp in her hands.

Her eyes are fixed on the road.

She has waited fourteen years.

And today, she wants to be the first to see Ram.

A little boy keeps troubling his mother.

“Mother, when will Ram come?”

“Very soon, dear.”

“But when?”

“Look towards the sky!”

And suddenly, someone shouts:

“The Pushpak Viman! The Pushpak Viman!”

According to the epic, Ram, Sita and Lakshman return in a celestial flying vehicle known as the Pushpak Viman.

The entire city looks up.

And there he is!

Ram.

With Sita.

With Lakshman.

And with Hanuman, his devoted companion.

Imagine the excitement!

Conch shells are blown.

Drums begin to beat.

People rush out of their homes.

Flowers rain down from rooftops.

Some are laughing.

Some are crying.

Some simply stand still, unable to believe that the wait is finally over.

The beloved prince has returned.

The city has its Ram back.

And the people welcome him with thousands of lamps.

This is the traditional story associated with Diwali.

A celebration of homecoming.

A celebration of hope.

A celebration of the victory of good over evil.

And, above all, a celebration of light.

What exactly is Diwali?

Now, if this is your first introduction to Diwali, let me explain something.

Diwali, also called Deepavali, is one of India’s most important festivals.

The word Deepavali comes from Sanskrit.

It means a row or series of lamps.

Traditionally, small earthen lamps called diyas are filled with oil or ghee and fitted with cotton wicks.

When lit, they create a beautiful, warm glow.

Millions of Indian families celebrate Diwali by decorating their homes, lighting diyas, preparing sweets, exchanging gifts, visiting relatives and offering prayers.

For many Hindus, the festival is associated with the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and his victory over Ravana.

In other Indian traditions, Diwali also has different religious and historical associations.

For example, it is particularly important to Jains as a festival commemorating the liberation of Lord Mahavira.

For many Sikhs, the occasion is associated with Bandi Chhor Divas.

The festival is celebrated in different ways across India and by Indian communities around the world.

But there is one beautiful idea that connects these celebrations.

Light overcoming darkness.

Hope overcoming despair.

Goodness overcoming evil.

And happiness finding its way home.

Fast forward to November 2026. We are back in Ayodhya!

Now open your eyes.

We are no longer in the age of kings and kingdoms.

We are in modern-day Ayodhya.

And what a sight!

The city is celebrating its tenth Deepotsav, its grand annual festival of lamps.

The streets are decorated.

The temples are illuminated.

The gateways are covered in flowers and lights.

Music fills the air.

Traditional performances bring stories from the Ramayana to life.

And the people!

Oh, the people!

They have travelled from every corner of India.

Families have come with children.

Elderly couples have travelled long distances.

Young friends are taking photographs.

Pilgrims are walking towards the temples.

Visitors from overseas are also joining the celebrations.

Artists from different parts of the world are presenting performances inspired by the Ramayana.

Different languages are being spoken.

Different cultures are meeting.

But one expression seems to bring everyone together.

“Jai Shri Ram!”

It means “Victory to Lord Ram” and is a joyful expression of devotion.

And then comes the sight that makes you forget everything else.

More than three million earthen lamps!

Yes, you heard that right.

During the 2026 Deepotsav, more than 3 million diyas have illuminated 56 ghats along the banks of the Sarayu River.

Around 35,000 volunteers have helped arrange and light these lamps.

The premises of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple have also been illuminated with approximately one lakh additional lamps.

Think about the effort!

Think about the planning!

Think about thousands of people working together to create one extraordinary spectacle.

A presentation involving 2,100 drones has brought scenes from the Ramayana to life in the night sky.

There are cultural performances, traditional tableaux, music and celebrations.

But let me tell you something.

The numbers are impressive.

The records are wonderful.

Yet the most beautiful thing is not a record.

It is the expression on the face of someone seeing these lamps for the first time.

That expression says everything.

Come, let’s walk towards the Sarayu River.

Wait!

Don’t walk so fast.

I want you to experience this slowly.

We are approaching the banks of the Sarayu.

This river is deeply associated with Ayodhya and the traditional stories of Lord Ram.

For centuries, it has been part of the spiritual and cultural life of the region.

And tonight, it looks extraordinary.

The riverfront is glowing.

Thousands of people have gathered along the ghats.

A ghat is a series of steps leading down to a river, often used for bathing, prayer and religious ceremonies.

Some people are sitting on the steps.

Some are standing with folded hands.

Children are sitting on their fathers’ shoulders.

An elderly woman is carefully holding a little diya.

A young couple is taking photographs.

A family is trying to find a comfortable place from which everyone can see the river.

And somewhere nearby, a street vendor is calling out:

“Hot jalebis! Fresh sweets!”

Ah!

Now we are talking!

You cannot truly experience an Indian festival without experiencing its food.

The smell of freshly prepared sweets.

The colourful stalls.

The flower sellers.

The little shops selling souvenirs.

The sounds of bargaining.

The laughter of children.

The friendly chaos.

I love this part of India.

Because a festival is not only about its rituals.

It is also about people enjoying being together.

The Sarayu Aarti: A river illuminated by devotion

And now, something special is about to happen.

The evening prayer ceremony is beginning.

It is called the Sarayu Aarti.

An aarti is a Hindu devotional ritual in which lamps are offered before a deity or a sacred presence.

Priests stand along the riverfront.

They hold large brass lamps with multiple flames.

The chanting begins.

Conch shells sound.

Temple bells ring.

The lamps are raised and moved in beautiful, rhythmic patterns.

The crowd joins its hands.

Some close their eyes.

Some softly repeat the name of Ram.

Others simply watch.

The flames dance in the air.

Their reflections shimmer on the river.

And for a moment, the entire place seems to breathe together.

I stand quietly.

I don’t want to speak.

I don’t want to check my phone.

I don’t even want to take a photograph.

Some moments are too beautiful to interrupt.

I look at the river.

I look at the lamps.

I look at the people.

And I find myself remembering a verse from the Ramcharitmanas:

सिय राममय सब जग जानी।
करउँ प्रनाम जोरि जुग पानी॥

It expresses the idea of seeing the presence of Sita and Ram throughout the world and bowing with folded hands.

What a beautiful philosophy!

Perhaps that is what makes this celebration so special.

It is not just about lighting a lamp outside your house.

It is about finding light in the world around you.

A little story about an earthen lamp

Let me tell you a small story.

Imagine an elderly potter sitting outside his house.

His hands are wrinkled.

His back is bent.

But he is still making little earthen lamps.

His grandson asks:

“Grandfather, why do you make so many lamps? We have electric lights everywhere. What is so special about these little things?”

The old man smiles.

He picks up a freshly made diya.

He places it in the boy’s hands.

Then he says:

“Electricity can brighten a room, my child. But a little diya reminds us that even the smallest flame can challenge darkness. And when millions of little flames come together, the darkness has nowhere to hide.”

The boy looks at the lamp.

He may not understand the philosophy completely.

But he understands his grandfather’s smile.

And perhaps that is enough.

You see, festivals have a wonderful way of bringing generations together.

A grandmother teaching a child how to make rangoli.

A father helping his son light his first diya.

A mother preparing sweets using a recipe passed down through generations.

A family sitting together after dinner.

These are the little things that make a festival memorable.

And where is Hanuman tonight?

I have been wondering about something.

Where is Hanuman?

The great devotee of Ram.

The fearless messenger.

The friend who never abandoned his Lord.

Perhaps he is somewhere watching the celebration.

But I think he is also among us.

Look around.

That volunteer who has been helping people for hours.

The young man helping an elderly visitor climb the steps.

The stranger offering water to a tired pilgrim.

The person who makes space for a child to see the aarti.

I think I have found Hanuman!

Because devotion is not always about chanting loudly.

Sometimes, it is about helping quietly.

And perhaps this is a good time to remember the Hanumans in our own lives.

The friends who stood beside us when things went wrong.

The family members who supported us without expecting anything.

The people who helped us when nobody else noticed our difficulties.

Have we thanked them?

Have we told them how much they mean to us?

Perhaps this Diwali, we should.

A phone call.

A warm hug.

A simple thank you.

Sometimes, that is a better gift than anything money can buy.

What can Diwali teach the modern world?

Let’s be honest.

Our world has become incredibly connected.

We have smartphones, instant messages, video calls and social media.

We can speak to someone thousands of miles away within seconds.

Yet many people feel lonely.

We have hundreds of contacts but sometimes struggle to find someone who will simply listen.

We decorate our homes beautifully, but occasionally forget to take care of our relationships.

We send festive greetings to hundreds of people but forget to call the one person who is waiting to hear our voice.

And this is where the story of Ram becomes relevant even today.

Ram represents the importance of keeping one’s word.

Sita represents courage and dignity.

Lakshman represents loyalty.

Bharat represents sacrifice.

Hanuman represents devotion and selfless service.

Together, their stories offer lessons that cross religious and cultural boundaries.

The Ramcharitmanas has a particularly beautiful couplet:

परहित सरिस धरम नहि भाई।
पर पीड़ा सम नहि अधमाई॥

It means:

“There is no greater duty than doing good to others, and no greater wrongdoing than causing pain to another.”

What a wonderful principle for the modern world!

Imagine a world with a little less hatred.

A little less ego.

A little more kindness.

A little more patience.

And a little more time for the people we love.

Perhaps that would be a beautiful way to celebrate Diwali.

If I could spend an entire Diwali in Ayodhya…

I would not begin with the fireworks.

I would begin early in the morning.

I would walk through the decorated streets.

I would visit the temples.

I would watch the flower sellers arranging their colourful garlands.

I would stop at a little sweet shop and order something traditional.

I would probably ask the shopkeeper about his family and how long he has been celebrating Diwali here.

Then I would visit the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, a place of immense religious significance for Hindus.

I would spend some quiet moments there.

After that, I would walk towards the Sarayu.

I would find a place along the ghat.

And I would wait for evening.

When the first diya is lit, I would watch it carefully.

Then another.

Then another.

And soon, the entire riverfront would become a universe of golden lights.

The river would reflect the lamps.

The temples would glow.

The air would fill with music and prayers.

And I would probably forget to take photographs.

Because some experiences should be stored in the heart, not just in a mobile phone.

If somebody asked me what I was thinking, I would probably smile and say:

“I am imagining the happiness of the people who welcomed Ram home after fourteen years.”

Before we leave, let me tell you something.

Look at the Sarayu one last time.

The lamps are still glowing.

The river is still flowing.

The bells are still ringing.

Families are slowly returning to their homes.

Some people are carrying sweets.

Some are carrying souvenirs.

Some are carrying photographs.

And some are carrying memories they will cherish for the rest of their lives.

A little girl is standing beside her mother.

She looks at the river.

Then she asks:

“Mother, why do we celebrate Diwali?”

Her mother smiles.

“Because Ram came home, dear.”

The little girl thinks for a moment.

Then she asks:

“Will he come home again next year?”

The mother laughs.

“Of course. Every year.”

And I smile too.

Because perhaps that is the most beautiful thing about Diwali.

Ram comes home every year.

Through our prayers.

Through our traditions.

Through our efforts to become better human beings.

Through every little act of love, kindness and compassion.

You don’t have to belong to a particular religion to appreciate the human message of this celebration.

You don’t have to know every verse of the Ramayana.

You don’t even have to have visited India.

You only need to understand one simple idea.

That light matters.

That goodness matters.

That love matters.

And that no matter how long the darkness lasts, hope deserves another chance.

The festival reminds us that the journey home is worth waiting for.

And that the light within us must never go out.

A final thought from Binnu

My dear friend, tonight, when you light a candle or a little lamp in your home, pause for a moment.

Think of Ayodhya.

Think of the people who waited fourteen years.

Think of Ram, Sita and Lakshman returning home.

Think of Hanuman, the devoted friend.

Think of millions of lamps shining along the Sarayu.

And perhaps think of someone you have been meaning to call.

Call them.

Tell them you miss them.

Tell them you are happy they are in your life.

And if there is someone who needs a little help, offer it.

Because the true beauty of a festival is not measured by how brightly our homes shine.

It is measured by how much warmth we bring into someone else’s life.

More than three million lamps may illuminate Ayodhya tonight, but the light of Ram’s story has been shining in human hearts for thousands of years.

And that is a light worth celebrating.

Good night, my friend.

Happy Diwali!

May your home be filled with happiness, your heart with peace, and your life with the warmth of a thousand little lamps.

Jai Shri Ram!

With love,

Binnu

Wandering with Nikhil – Stories, Memories and the Spirit of India.