Published 1 November 2026 by the Govindam Retreat team. Based on ETV Bharat, Dainik Navajyoti, Patrika and an IANS photo.
For Jaipur Diwali 2026, the walled city markets are lighting up. At Chhoti Chaupar, Chandpol Bazaar Vyapar Mandal is building a Ram Setu and Ram Mandir tableau 42 ft wide and 36 ft tall. ETV Bharat reported it on 28 October. On Sunday, 1 November, an IANS photograph showed MI Road lit up with decorative lights at Panch Batti.
What is being built at Chhoti Chaupar?
Chandpol Bazaar Vyapar Mandal is building a Ram Setu and Ram Mandir tableau measuring 42 ft wide and 36 ft tall, ETV Bharat reported. Artisans from Bengal are making it. The tableau will show Ram, Lakshman, Hanuman, Jamvant, Nal and Neel. Moving figures of the vanar sena will carry stones into the sea to build the bridge.
Mandal president Subhash Goyal told ETV Bharat the association has built festival gates and tableaux for 22 straight years. Past themes include Gajner, Hawa Mahal, Pushpak Viman, an automated metro and Operation Sindoor.
Which other Jaipur markets are lit for Diwali 2026?
MI Road will glow with different coloured lights for seven days, Jaipur Vyapar Mahasangh general secretary Suresh Saini told ETV Bharat. At Panch Batti the lighting will show about 300 years of Jaipur's history and heritage. Bhagwan Das Road, including the area around Raj Mandir cinema, has been added to the decorated stretch this year.
An IANS photograph published on 1 November shows the MI Road market at Panch Batti already lit. Earlier, on 12 October, Dainik Navajyoti reported the MI Road plan of about 3 km of decoration. It listed six welcome gates, one at Ajmeri Gate, four at Panch Batti and one near Government Hostel.
Gangauri Bazaar, where Govindam Retreat is located, planned about 1 km of decoration, Dainik Navajyoti reported on 16 October. The plan had four welcome gates, religious tableaux, 3D lighting and selfie points. Mandal president Vinay Sharma said the decoration is being done with the support of all the market's traders.
How long will the decorations stay up?
The municipal corporation raised the permitted decoration period from 7 days to 11 days, Dainik Navajyoti reported on 20 October. Jaipur Vyapar Mahasangh thanked the corporation. Dr Lalit Singh Sanchora, president of Jaipur Vyapar Mandal, wrote to Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma asking for at least 20 days.
Reports differ on MI Road: ETV Bharat quoted seven days of lighting, while Navajyoti's October report said 11 days. Traders were also divided earlier. On 18 October Patrika reported that 125 trade associations had announced a boycott of the Diwali Carnival 2026. The 28 October and 1 November reports show Chandpol Bazaar and MI Road going ahead with lights.
What should visitors plan for?
The lights are best seen after dark, when the markets switch them on. Jaipur Diwali 2026 traffic rules had not appeared in the sources we checked on 1 November 2026. In 2025 the walled city ran one-way traffic and moved parking to Ramniwas Bagh and Chaugan Stadium. The Sootr reported that plan on 19 October 2025. Check the 2026 plan from Jaipur Traffic Police before you drive in.
The walled city is also fresh from a night-long clean-up on 31 October; read our report on Operation Clean Sweep 2.0.
Where to eat while you see the lights in Gangori Bazaar
This section is about our own restaurant and is separate from the news report above.
Govindam Retreat is a pure vegetarian restaurant near Govind Dev Ji Temple. It is on the first floor above All Rajasthan Shilp Gram Udyog, Rajamal Ka Talab Road, Gangori Bazaar, Jaipur 302002. Opening hours are 10 AM to 11 PM daily, phone +91 9929949258. The Rajasthani thali is Rs 700 per person, and groups of 30 or more can book the Rs 800 plus GST buffet.
For more on eating in the old city, see our Jaipur dining guide for tourists and the old city pure veg restaurant guide.
Sources
- ETV Bharat Rajasthan, 28 October 2026: Ram Setu tableau at Chhoti Chaupar and MI Road lighting
- IANS photo via Social News XYZ, 1 November 2026: markets illuminated ahead of Diwali
- Dainik Navajyoti, 12, 16 and 20 October 2026: MI Road plan, Gangauri Bazaar plan, decoration period
- Patrika, 18 October 2026: trade associations' carnival boycott
- Photo: Diwali street decorations in Jaipur (2004), by Marc Shandro, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
