'Deepotsav' 2020: 5.51 lakhs earthen lamps lit on Saryu riverbank

18:35 November 13

5.51 lakh earthen lamps lit on Saryu riverbank 

Earthen lamps lit on the bank of River Saryu in Ayodhya as part of 'Deepotsava' celebrations. 

18:07 November 13

CM performs aarti at Ram ki Paidi as celebrations start

CM performs aarti at Ram ki Paidi as celebrations start

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lights the lamp at Ram ki Paidi as 'Deepotsava' celebrations are underway in Ayodhya. 

5.51 lakhs earthen lamps to be lit on the bank of River Saryu today.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also performed 'aarti' at Ram ki Paidi.

17:30 November 13

CM inaugurates virtual Deepotsava web portal

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel inaugurated the virtual Deepotsava web portal.

After inaugurating the web portal, Yogi extended thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that he made the construction of Ram Temple possible even during the pandemic. 

"We are thankful to him for fulfilling Ayodhya's dream," the CM said.

16:22 November 13

CM Yogi Adityanath offers prayers to Lord Ram at Ram Janmabhoomi site

CM Yogi Adityanath offers prayers to Lord Ram at Ram Janmabhoomi site

CM Yogi Adityanath reached Ram Janmabhoomi along with Governor Anandiben Patel and General Secretary of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Champat Rai on Friday.

He also offered prayers to Lord Ram at Ram Janmabhoomi site.

Earlier, the officials of the district administration welcomed CM Yogi Adityanath at Ayodhya Airport.

16:10 November 13

Around 10,000 volunteers have been prepared for the Deepotsava 2020

In the city of Ayodhya, Deepotsavas have been held continuously for the last three years. The year 2020 will be marking the fourth year of this grand event for which the preparation has been done. A new world record will once again be set by lighting 5 lakh 51 thousand lamps. 

Around 10,000 volunteers have been prepared for this, who will help in achieving the big feat. This entire event will be held in Ram's Paidi campus. 

The Uttar Pradesh government has made it clear that only those people will be allowed to attend the event, who the district administration has issued the necessary passes to. 

Saint Mahavir Das told ETV Bharat that the tradition of Deepotsav has been going on in India for centuries. But after waiting for 500 years, Lord Ram's temple is being built. So this year's Deepotsav is very special and unique. That is why people have come to see this festival. 

Anshul Gupta, another devotee also said that such events are the conductors of our culture and tradition and that they are fortunate to be a witness to this event.

14:45 November 13

5,51,000 diyas to be lit in Ayodhya to create world record

Preparations are on to create a world record by lighting 5,51,000 diyas in the Deepotsava 2020 program. 

More than 6 lakh lamps have been installed in Ram's Paidi campus and in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the evening, these lamps will be lit to create another world record.

12:49 November 13

Tourism minister Neelkanth Tiwari joinsDeepotsava 2020 procession

While the procession is steadily moving towards the Ram Katha Park, Tourism minister Neelkanth Tiwari also joined in the celebrations.

Calling the event a unique one, Tiwari said that a lot of work has been done to spread the culture and tradition of Lord Rama and his ideals all over the country and all over the world. 

"Today, Ayodhya feels like heaven," he added.

The procession was welcomed by showering flowers at the gate of Ram Janmabhoomi after which the procession has proceeded further.

11:42 November 13

Deepotsava 2020 celebrations start in Ayodhya

Ayodhya:The grand Deepotsava 2020 celebrations have started in Ayodhya where Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to arrive and artists from all over the country are taking part.

A procession has started from Saket P.G. College depicting life in the treta yuga in the birthplace of Lord Ram and will reach the riverbank after covering a stretch of about five kilometres.

The procession has 11 tableaux, built on the Ramayana themes, participating in it and will be taken through all the major spots of the city. It has crossed Ram Katha park. 

The themes include Gurukul Shiksha, Ram-Sita Vivah, Kewat Prasang, Ram Darbaar, Shabri-Ram Milaap and Lanka Dahan among others.

Ayodhya is likely to get a slew of Diwali gifts, including an international airport project to be announced by the CM.

Apart from the expected announcement of over a dozen development projects, the people in Ayodhya will also be treated to an impressive Diwali show with the Saryu river bank being illuminated with 5.51 lakh earthen lamps.

Actors representing Lord Ram, Goddess Sita and Lakshman will descend on the bank in a "pushpak viman", a flower-bedecked helicopter and will be received by Governor Anandiben Patel and the chief minister.

Besides the Saryu bank, the Ramjanmabhoomi, the site of upcoming Ram temple, too will be lit up by 11,000 earthen lamps in the evening, when a grand Aarti would be held at the Saryu river after the sunset.

UP's Additional chief Secretary Awanish Awasthi has on Thursday said that the chief minister may talk of several ongoing projects while announcing a few new ones.

"A lot will happen in Ayodhya on Friday," he had added.

The projects that the chief minister is likely to dedicate to Ayodhya and its people as Diwali gifts include a modern sewage treatment plant here to maintain the flow and cleanliness of the river.

The pilgrim town will also have an international Ramlila Centre to be built at the cost of around Rs 3.47 crore, a 'Bhajan' site at Rs 19.02 crore, a Queen Heo Memorial Park for Rs 21.92 crore, a Ram Katha Gallery worth Rs 7.59 crore, the expansion of Ram Katha Park at Rs 2.75 crore and the beautification of Ram ki Paidi at Rs 12.65 crore.

Among developmental projects, the holy city will also have a modern bus stand (Rs 7.40 crore), a multi-level parking lot (Rs 16.44 crore) and the renovation of road and footpaths (Rs 8.40 crore) besides others.

(With inputs from agencies)