The holy city of Ayodhya sparkled on Wednesday evening as the annual Deepotsav kicked off with a display of over 28 lakh diyas lighting up the Saryu River banks. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath led the event, inaugurating this grand celebration alongside several ministers and thousands of devotees who had gathered to honor Diwali’s spirit of light and hope.
In this year’s Deepotsav, a special aarti was performed by 1,100 participants along the Saryu River, adding to the spiritual ambiance of the event. The grand celebration also marks the first Diwali since the consecration of the Ram Temple, completed in January. Devotional music filled the air as Ayodhya aimed for another world record with its massive lamp-lighting ceremony, making the Deepotsav of 2024 a truly historic celebration.
A special laser and light show at Saryu Ghat added to the atmosphere, with sound and lights illustrating scenes from the Ram Leela, bringing to life the story of Lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya after his 14 years of exile. The crowd watched in awe as diyas illuminated the riverbanks, and CM Adityanath performed a ceremonial aarti, officially launching the festivities.
Amid the celebrations, CM Yogi Adityanath expressed Diwali greetings to the people, reflecting on the festival’s cultural importance. “Thousands of years ago, the people of Ayodhya welcomed Lord Ram with a festival of lamps, marking the start of Ramrajya,” Adityanath shared, underscoring the historical roots of Diwali in Sanatan Dharma. He also addressed Ayodhya’s growth over recent years, emphasizing the significant strides made since 2017, especially in infrastructure and power supply, as well as the completed construction of the Ram Temple.
In the spirit of the occasion, the CM and other ministers honored artists portraying Ram, Sita, and Lakshman by applying tilak on their foreheads, showcasing the cultural essence of the celebration. In a heartfelt display, flowers were showered from a helicopter onto these actors, thrilling the crowd and adding to the festive spirit.
Elsewhere, Diwali preparations led to heavy traffic near Delhi’s Akshardham Temple as commuters faced delays, highlighting the bustling activity across the country during the festival.
