As thousands of devotees and Prime Minister Narendra Modi lit a record number of over 15 lakh "Diyas" to illuminate the holy city on Sunday during the grand Deepotsav on the bank of the Saryu, it appeared that Lord Rama's homeland of Ayodhya had returned to its fantastical beauty of the Treta Yug on Diwali eve.
As part of Deepotsav, the Diwali celebrations included fireworks, a laser show, and the staging of Ramlilas. Lakhs of earthen lamps were lit in this site.
According to Navdeep Rinwa, the divisional commissioner for Ayodhya, during the sixth iteration of the Deepotsav, over 22,000 volunteers lit over 15 lakh earthen lamps at Ram ki Paidi near the Saryu bank.
Many people came to Ram ki Paidi on Saturday night to experience the Deepotsav. Young people were busy snapping selfies and posting them to their social media accounts as they were excited.
At Ram Janmbhoomi, PM Modi offered prayers to Ram Lalla. After a "bhoomi pujan" for the construction of a Ram temple on August 5, 2020, this is his first visit to Ayodhya. The prime minister went to the improvised Ram temple as soon as he arrived in Ayodhya for the Deepotsav celebrations and prayed to Ram Lalla. There, he conducted a "aarti" and lighted an earthen candle. On his forehead, temple chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das applied vermillion. Officials also provided PM Modi with information regarding the huge Ram temple being built at the location.
According to the Prime Minister's Office, PM Modi saw a big musical laser show at Ram ki Paidi along with a 3-D holographic projection mapping performance.
The motto of PM Modi's government, "Sabka Saath, Sabja Vikas," was inspired by Lord Ram's rule, he claimed as he spent the evening in Ayodhya, where thousands of "diyas" illuminated the banks of the sacred Saryu.
