PHOTOS: Ayodhya lit-up with 5 lakh diyas on Diwali eve

IMAGE: People light earthen lamps on the bank of River Saryu during Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya on Saturday. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo

Over 5.50 lakh diyas, or earthen lamps, were lit in Ayodhya on Saturday as a part of 'Deepotsava' celebrations at Ram ki Paidi.

IMAGE: Locals and tourists flocked at Ram ki Paidi in large numbers to celebrate the event for the third year. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel participated in the celebrations.

IMAGE: The Deepotsav Mela was granted the status of State fair by the government. Photograph: ANI Photo

Speaking at the event, Adityanath said the Bharatiya Janata Party governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh have been living up to the concept of Ram Rajya for the last five years.

IMAGE: A sadhu clicks a selfie as devotees light earthen lamps on the bank of Saryu. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo

He said the state and the central governments have delivered many welfare schemes at the grassroots without any discrimination, which he described as important values under the Ram Rajya.

IMAGE: Artists dressed as Ram, Sita and Lakshman in a helicopter modelled as the mythical pushpak vimana perform a symbolic descent of Lord Ram, Lakshman and Goddess Sita in Ayodhya during the Deepotsav celebration. Photograph: ANI Photo

Describing the concept of Ram Rajya, he said: "It is a system wherein there is no discrimination on the basis of region, religion, caste or creed. There is no place of any type of pain."

IMAGE: Of the 5.50 lakh lamps, around 4 lakh were lit at Ram Paidi, while the rest at other locations in the city. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo

"We are delivering the government schemes to every section of society including poor, farmer, and youths as per the concept of Ram Rajya," he said.

IMAGE: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with artistes dressed up as Ram, Sita and Laxman. Photograph: ANI Photo

He also thanked Prime Minister Modi for popularising India's culture in the world by celebrating 'Deepotsava' in Ayodhya, 'Dev Deepawali' in Varanasi, grand organisation of 'Kumbh' in Prayagraj and by popularising Yoga.

IMAGE: In 2018, Ayodhya broke a Guinness World Record by lighting more than 3 lakh earthen lamps and keeping them lit for at least 45 minutes on the banks of river Saryu. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo

Artists from different states like Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan gathered at Saryu Ghat in Ayodhya ahead of the 'Deepotsav'.

Dressed as Ram, Krishna and Hanuman, various artists participated in the grand Diwali celebrations in the town.

IMAGE: The CM presents a memento to UP Governor Anandiben Patel during the event. Photograph: ANI Photo

"It feels great to be here. We get to meet a lot of people here. Artists from different states have come here," said an artist.

"On the occasion of the second Deepotsav, we created a record by lighting 3,51,000 earthen diyas. This is the third time that we are celebrating Deepotsav here and we will light 5,51,000 earthen diyas," said a local.

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