Until a decade ago, Diwali in Ayodhya remained largely a household celebration, even though the city’s association with Lord Ram’s return lies at the heart of the festival. Women lit diyas, prepared festive meals and celebrated with their families, but their skills and enterprise had little access to the wider festive economy. Then came Deepotsav. In the dazzling glow of lakhs of diyas, new opportunities emerged. TOI profiles some of the women who have turned Deepotsav into an opportunity for change.Uma Singh (48) | homestay entrepreneurA homemaker turned entrepreneur, Uma runs Shree Raghav Aakriti Homestay in Ayodhya, serving guests local poori sabzi and packets of the city’s ODOP jaggery. During Deepotsav, room tariffs rise by around Rs 500 and daily earnings touch Rs 2,000. “I embraced this opportunity as it meant my own financial empowerment. I also want guests to remember our hospitality and take home a taste of Ayodhya,” she said.Anushka Shukla (23) | Digital creatorAnushka showcases Ayodhya’s cultural and spiritual heritage through videos that have earned her over one lakh Instagram followers. Her Deepotsav content reached 1.2 crore people last year, helping her set up Do Chammach, a restaurant near Hanuman Gufa Crossing. “When I started, there were only a few women creating content in Ayodhya. People now explore places beyond Ram Mandir. Deepotsav also brings more people to our restaurant,” she said.Anju Singh (43) | Incense makerIn Abanpur Saroha, Anju works with 13 other women trained under Rural Tourism Initiative. Their incense-making activity generates collective monthly earnings of over Rs 50,000 during the Diwali months. They now plan to make agarbattis using discarded flowers from Hanuman Garhi. “When money comes from something we have made ourselves, it gives us confidence. Those flowers have already been part of worship; we want to give them another purpose,” she said.Aradhana Singh (33) | Temple decoration entrepreneurAradhana started a venture with her mother making deity clothes, torans, jhaalars and decorative items. It employs six women, with more engaged when orders rise. Festive-season business grows by 20% to 30%. “Whenever there is additional demand, we engage more women to help with the work,” she said.Sundara (39) | PotterSundara is among 25 women from Kajiyapur and Bhaghar Jheel in Barabanki and Gyaspur in Ayodhya making 1.60 lakh earthen lamps worth Rs 12.8 lakh for Deepotsav 2026. At Rs 8 apiece, the order connects their pottery skills with a substantial market. “When we have an order like this, we know where our work will go. It adds to family income and makes us feel that the skill in our hands still has a place,” she said.Pinki Devi (57) |Diya makerFor Pinki, who makes and sells earthen lamps in Ayodhya, the festive season is the busiest time of year. Rising Deepotsav demand pushes her daily earnings to Rs 5,000-Rs 6,000. “Demand for our diyas increases significantly during this period. It gives me an important opportunity to increase my earnings and support my livelihood,” she said.Laxmi (38) | Leaf-plate makerIn Rampurwa, Laxmi makes leaf plates and bowls used at temple bhandaras and community meals. Rural tourism programme training has helped women prepare these products for Ayodhya’s market. “People organise religious meals and need plates and bowls. That is a market for us. Training has taught us to prepare products for buyers in Ayodhya and gives us another way to earn,” she said.Sabina Khatoon (43) | Cotton wick producerIn Mawai, self-help group leader Sabina helped women enter Deepotsav’s supply chain through cotton wick-making. Her group fulfilled an order for three lakh wicks during Deepotsav 2020, supplying an essential component for lamps lit on the ghats. “It gave women work and a place in celebrations. We would like more such orders, with fair payment for our labour,” she said.Bhagyashree and Dhanashree Watkar | Devotional singersFor the sisters from Kachari Sawanga village in Nagpur district, Deepotsav opened a larger stage for their devotional music. After performing at Ram temple bhoomipujan in 2020 and Deepotsav in 2021, they received a special invitation for the January 2024 consecration celebrations. “Performing at Deepotsav allowed us to take our devotional music to a larger stage. Later, we were invited for consecration celebrations. Some invitations become milestones in an artist’s life. Ayodhya has given us those moments,” they said.
