The city of Ayodhya on Saturday witnessed the celebration of the seventh Deepotsav with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appealing to residents to ensure a “historic welcome” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he visits to seat Lord Ram in his grand temple on January 22. “It's the responsibility of the people of Ayodhya that when the Prime Minister comes on January 22 to seat Lord Ram in his grand temple, his welcome in Ayodhya should also be historic,” said Adityanath during the Deepotsav celebration where more than 22 lakh diyas (earthen lamps) were lit up on the banks of the Saryu setting a new Guinness world record. The chief minister said that the “people of Ayodhya should start preparations for that historic programme (inauguration of the Ram temple) from now”. “Ayodhya is the favourite city of Lord Ram and the double-engine government is determined to develop it as the most beautiful city in the world. Compared to the number of tourists visiting Ayodhya today, the number will increase 10 times after Makar Sankranti and the inauguration of the grand Ram temple on January 22 next year,” said Adityanath. Diplomats from 50 major countries were present during the programme in Ayodhya on Saturday. In his address, Adityanath said when Deepotsav started in 2017, there was excitement and hope among the people of Ayodhya. “A slogan echoed: ‘Yogi ji ek kaam karo, mandir ka nirman karo….' Today, after 500 years of sacrifices, movements and campaigns, Lord Shri Ram is going to be seated in his grand temple,” he said. Congratulating everyone on Diwali, the chief minister said, “We all are fortunate that we are witnessing the festival of lights here.” “This festival of lights is being broadcast live in more than 100 countries. The world is watching how Lord Shri Ram would have come to Ayodhya in Pushpak Viman thousands of years ago and how the Gods would have showered flowers from the sky. When we started this programme seven years ago, there was confusion. The programme which was started here at that time with the cooperation of revered saints and public representatives, is today fulfilling the Prime Minister's vision of 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat'. We all are seeing a new Ayodhya being built,” said Adityanath. The Chief Minister claimed that work is “being done on 178 development projects worth Rs 30,500 crore in Ayodhya. If the participation of the private sector is also added, then in the coming time, projects worth Rs 50 thousand crores will be seen taking shape here. This will create lakhs of jobs.” The Chief Minister said the Prime Minister has strengthened the vision of Lord Ram's Ramrajya in the last nine-and-a-half years. “Be it a natural calamity, the problem of terrorism or other problems, work has been done for the welfare of the poor by eliminating fears. Free arrangements for housing, toilets, electricity connection and insurance of Rs 5 lakh have been made for the poor for their treatment. Not only this, the work of providing free tests, free treatment, free vaccine and free food grains is being done since the coronavirus (Covid-19 pandemic) period,” he said. In her address, Governor Anandiben Patel said that this divine festival of lights is establishing Lord Ram's Ayodhya in the whole world. “Lord Shri Ram and Ramayana are the bearers of Indian culture and social values. Ramayana is played in every house,” she said. The 22,23 lakh 'diyas' (earthen lanterns), 6.47 lakh more than last year, were lit by 25,000 volunteers at the 51 ghats of Ram Ki Paidi along the river on Saturday. Ayodhya echoed with 'Jai Shri Ram' after the representatives of the Guinness Book of World Records who counted the lamps using drones and gave the status of world record to the city, the release said. Upon receiving a certificate from the Guinness Book of World Records, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended warm greetings to the entire Ayodhya and its residents. In 2017, when the BJP came to power in Uttar Pradesh, 1.71 lakh lamps were lit in Ayodhya and since then Deepotsav has become a major event in the state. In 2018, 3.01 lakh lamps were lit, 4.04 lakh in 2019, 6.06 lakh in 2020, 9.41 lakh in 2021 and 15.76 lakh in 2022, the release said. — With PTI inputs
