New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government will light up 12 lakh earthen lamps in Ayodhya to celebrate “Deepotsav” on November 3, surpassing the previous year's record. Last year, more than 6 lakh earthen lamps were lit and a world record was set.
This year, 9 lakh lamps will be lit on the banks of the Saryu river and another 3 lakh lamps will be lit around the temple town of Ayodhya. A five-day event is to be organised in Ayodhya, which will include the staging of Ramlila and a 3D holographic display along with a laser show.
The celebrations will begin on November 1, and the lamps will be lit on the evening of November 3 from 6 PM to 6:30 PM. According to a satement issued by the government, a cultural troupe from Sri Lanka has also been invited to perform Ramlila, and there will be other cultural activities from November 1 to 5.
On the first day, i.e. Monday, a group from Nepal’s Janakpur will be performing the Ramlila. Teams from Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Assam, Karnataka, and West Bengal will also stage Ramlilas during the five-day celebrations.
Ayodhya District Magistrate Nitish Kumar said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandi Ben Patel will receive the symbolic Lord Ram, Laxman, and Sita from the ‘Pushpak viman’ (a chopper) at Ram Katha Park in the district. CM Adityanath will also perform the Saryu aarti on the day.
Diwali will be celebrated across the country on November 4 this year.