After an exile of 500 years, Ayodhya was decorated beautifully to welcome its RAM
Sandeep Mitra
Ayodhya. The temple town of Ayodhya is bustling with activity due to the grand celebrations which took place during Dipawali.
After almost 500 years of wait, the decks have been cleared for the construction of a grand Ram temple at the Ram Janma Bhoomi following the Supreme Court order, and work has also begun in the right earnest.
It is also an added joy that the people were able to light up virtual lamps to mark the momentous occasion, especially between November 11-13, for which Ayodhya was decorated as a bride. The whole town was busy in the preparations and the whole environment in the entire town was electrifying and joyful.
As one enters the land of Ram, arch gates were seen everywhere and barricading was being done on the roadsides.
Most arch gates was based on the theme of Ramayan depicting various incidences while the other arch gates were being made of flowers of different hues and colours.
The Whole Event was decorated with Uniformity
It was ensured that the whole of Ayodhya was illuminated during the Deepotsava, grand lighting arrangements were being done at all the Ghats, Mutts, Temples, Localities, Lanes, Bridges and Electric Poles.
All the locations where different events during the Deepotsava took place – arrival of Lord Ram, Sita and Laxman, meeting point with Bharat, coronation and Ram ki Paidi) were decorated with lights in a unique way.
Officials involved in the arrangements said that all care was being taken to ensure that there is uniformity in all the events that will be held between 3 in the afternoon to 8 pm, on the Deepotsava day. In sync with this, all the backgrounds at localities were of the same colour. During the Tilkotsava, Raj Tilak (coronation) and Saryu Aarti, Brahmins were chanting Vedic hymns and this was the only voice heard across Ayodhya.
The local administration appealed to the temple, Mutt and managers at other religious spots to cooperate in this.
The whole event will be telecast live on large screens and on screen fitted vehicles. Through technology, people from all across the globe will be able to participate in the festivities.
Eight Thousand Volunteers were in service for lighting up the lamps
This is the fourth Deepotsava of the Yogi Government. Like the events in the past this year too a new record by lighting up 5.51 lakh earthen lamps was achieved. For this purpose, almost eight thousand volunteers drawn from the NCC, NSS, Scouts and other self-help groups were being pressed into service. Lamps were lit in localities in the city which were decorated beautifully.
The whole event will be mapped .
Following the Corona virus protocol was absolute mandatory
Priority was being accorded to the earthen lamps and those made by cow dung. The ‘Maati Kala Board’ provided 1.5 lakh free of cost earthen lamps for the Deepotsava. To review the arrangements and preparations for the Deepotsava, additional chief secretary (Information) Navneet Sehgal, Additional chief secretary (home) Awanish Kumar Awasthi, principal secretary (tourism) Mukesh Meshram and other senior officials of the state government and administration had visited Ayodhya. During this, an appeal was made to the people of the state, specially Ayodhya, to make this celebration unique and memorable. An appeal was also made to ensure complete adherence to the Corona Protocol of safe distance and wearing of mask was a must.