MUMBAI: Who says faith and technology don’t mix? This Diwali, ITC Mangaldeep proved that devotion can go digital and dazzlingly so. As part of the Ayodhya Deepotsav 2025, the brand turned prayer into pixels with an Augmented Reality (AR)-powered campaign, enabling devotees across India to virtually light Diyas and become part of Ayodhya’s record-breaking glow.
The grand spectacle in Ayodhya, hosted by the government of Uttar Pradesh, set a new Guinness World Record for the Highest Number of Oil Lamps Lit, an awe-inspiring 26,17,215 Diyas, surpassing last year’s total of 25,12,586 Diyas. But beyond the numbers, this Deepotsav stood out for how it united hearts across distances, one click, one flame, one prayer at a time.
Through Mangaldeep’s AR-enabled microsite, devotees from every corner of India could light a virtual Diya that corresponded to an actual lamp in Ayodhya on 19 October. What began as a modest plan to light 1 lakh Diyas quickly turned into a wave of faith when over 1.3 lakh virtual Diyas were lit prompting the brand to mirror that devotion on the ground by lighting 1.3 lakh real Diyas as well.
Adding to the sacred ambience was the Mangaldeep Khushboo Path, where 25 five-foot incense sticks and 25 Maha Havan Cups filled the air with divine fragrance, creating a multisensory experience that blended spirituality with spectacle.
“At ITC Mangaldeep, we believe devotion is timeless, though the way we experience it continues to evolve,” said ITC Divisional CEO of matches and agarbatti division Rohit Dogra. “This year’s initiative not only united millions of devotees across India digitally but also became a part of history as Ayodhya achieved a Guinness World Record. It’s a step forward in making devotion immersive, inclusive and meaningful in today’s digital era.”
The government, too, lauded the initiative. Ayodhya district magistrate Nikhil Tikaram Funde I.A.S noted, “We are delighted to have ITC Mangaldeep join the Deepotsav celebrations. Their digital effort allowed devotees nationwide to participate, reinforcing the spirit of unity and devotion that Deepotsav stands for.”
As the sacred city shimmered under millions of flickering flames, Mangaldeep’s AR-driven participation marked a new chapter in how technology can transcend geography turning faith into an experience that’s as collective as it is personal.
From app to aarti, the campaign embodied a rare harmony of the ancient and the avant-garde showing that in today’s India, even a Diya can have a digital soul.