Security Beefed Up In Ayodhya For Diwali, Cops To Monitor Social Media

Ahead of Deepotsav in Ayodhya, security has been tightened and round-the-clock police picketing is in place. Ghats and temples will be illuminated by earthen lamps.

Ayodhya:Preparations are underway for the upcoming Deepotsav in Ayodhya when 28 lakh earthen lamps will be lit on the ghats and the temples will be illuminated by 10 lakh lamps.

A traffic management has been planned wherein all the 17 lanes leading to this area have been closed to traffic while police teams are collecting details of the people residing in the colonies between Swargdwar and Rampath. A list of the Aadhaar Card and mobile numbers of the residents is being prepared.

In view of the preparations at Ram Ki Paidi, movement of people other than the pass holders has been banned. Only the volunteers deployed on the ghats and other officials and people associated with Deepotsav have been allotted passes to move around in this area.

According to nodal officer SS Mishra, efforts are on to host the eight Deepotsav celebrations and diyas are being put up on all the ghats while attention is being paid to ensure that all the lamps remain lit.

"All the social media platforms will be closely monitored and prompt action will be taken against any misleading posts. The hotels and lodges here will also be under the scanner and there will be a round-the-clock police picketing at important sites," police said.

Ayodhya police station inspector Manoj Kumar said one sub-inspector and four constables have been deployed each on all 17 lanes. People living in these areas have been requested not to leave these lanes on the day of Deepotsav. Security personnel will deployed on high-rise buildings for round-the-clock supervision.

On October 30, a four-kilometre procession will be taken out from Saket. This will be followed by a tableau of Lord Rama, Laxman, Sita and Hanuman.

The state tourism and culture department has also made special preparations for the celebrations. Along with 28 lakh lamps on ghats, 10 lakh lamps will illuminate various temples across Ayodhya. Last year 22.23 lakh lamps were lit and diplomats from 54 countries witnessed it.

Among the special attractions during the festival include Ramlila that will be staged by artists from six countries and 16 states. Artists will come here from Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia and Nepal. Apart from host state Uttar Pradesh, others participating at the Ramlila are Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, Assam, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Bihar, Chandigarh, Sikkim and Chhattisgarh.

Cultural events will be held at Guptar Ghat, Badi Devkali, Tulsi Udyan, Hanumangarhi, Rampath, Ramkatha Park, Saryu Ghat and Ram Ki Paadi. There will also be drone shows and musical laser shows.

This time, temple town Ayodhya is being decorated on the lines of Treta Yuga. Archways are being set up along with special lighting facilities. The tourism department has selected agencies to decorate and beautify Ayodhya.

To begin with a Pushpak Viman is being built behind Lata Chowk. The 36-foot high and 24-foot wide Pushpak Viman will also serve as a selfie point and have fibre statues of Sita, Lord Rama and his three brothers.

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