Ayodhya Diwali Celebration 2018: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and South Korean first lady Kim Jung-sook on their arrival at the Queen Huh Park in Ayodhya, Tuesday. Nov 6, 2018. (Source: PTI Photo)
Ayodhya Diwali Celebration 2018: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced that Faizabad district will be renamed as Ayodhya. The chief minister made the announcement during the grand Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya. He also said Ayodhya will get a new airport and a medical college. “A medical college will be established here in Ayodhya, I want it to be named after King Dasharatha. We will also construct an airport here named after Lord Ram,” CM Yogi said.
The latest development comes nearly three weeks after the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government officially changed the name of Allahabad district to Prayagraj.
First lady of South Korea, Kim Jung-sook, who is on a visit to India, was also part of the Diwali celebrations. CM Yogi Adityanath and Jung-sook inaugurated the Queen Hur memorial in Ayodhya. It is believed that princess Suriratna from Ayodhya married Korean King Kim-Suro, and became Queen Hur Hwang-ok 2,000 years ago.
It was widely expected that CM Adityanath would also announce the construction of a 151-metre statue of Ram on Saryu river. However, no such announcement were made.
Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya this time are taking place amid a growing chorus in the party and the Sangh Parivar for the construction of a temple at the Ramjanmabhoomi through an ordinance.
CM Yogi Adityanath also said a medical college will be established in Ayodhya. " I want it to be named after King Dasharatha. We will also construct an airport here named after Lord Ram," CM Adityanath said.
Stating that Ayodhya is a symbol of pride, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that Faizabad district has been renamed as Ayodhya
Kim Jung-sook, First lady of South Korea, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inviting her to India. "I am happy to celebrate Diwali in Ayodhya," she says.
Welcoming the South Korean first lady to Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said over 2,000 years ago the princess of Ayodhya married the prince of Korea. The chief minister said both the nations can take forward that legacy to greater heights.