Ayodhya Dham is celebrating Choti Diwali with grand festivities today, and the entire city has been elaborately decorated for the historic deepotsav celebrations. All 56 ghats along the sacred Saryu River have been adorned with rows of earthen lamps, making the entire holy city glow brilliantly in the dark. Modern technology has also been integrated, with 3D screens bringing key scenes from the Ramayana to life for the thousands of devotees and visitors present to witness the spectacle.
A Record-Breaking Deepotsav Celebration
This year's deepotsav in the sacred city is set to establish a brand-new milestone. Over 30 million lamps will be illuminated across the 56 ghats of Ram Ki Paidi. To add to the spiritual grandeur, 2,100 Vedic scholars will perform a grand Maha Aarti simultaneously on the banks of the Saryu River. Furthermore, a specialized aerial spectacle featuring 2,100 drones will project scenes from the Ramayana in the night sky. Adorned with dazzling illumination and episodes from the epic, Lord Rama's birthplace stands fully prepared for its 10th grand deepotsav celebration.
Complete Schedule of Today's Events in Ayodhya
The day's festivities kick off in the morning, with a ceremonial tableau procession starting at 10 AM from Saket Degree College and reaching Ram Katha Park by 2 PM. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to arrive at the Ayodhya airport at 2:15 PM, followed closely by the arrival of Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan at 2:30 PM. Following their arrival, both dignitaries will visit the Ram Mandir to offer prayers and seek blessings.
Between 3:25 PM and 3:40 PM, artists portraying Lord Rama and Mata Sita will arrive at Ram Katha Park via helicopter for the symbolic Bharat Milap reunion. From 3:50 PM to 4:10 PM, traditional worship, aarti, and a symbolic coronation of Lord Rama will take place at the park. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will then address the gathering from 4:25 PM to 4:40 PM, before heading to New Ghat for the majestic Saryu Aarti scheduled between 5:35 PM and 5:55 PM.
The main lamp-lighting ceremony at Ram Ki Paidi will run from 6:00 PM to 6:25 PM. This will be followed by a 3D projection mapping session, a laser show based on the Ramayana, and the massive drone display from 6:25 PM to 6:55 PM. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will deliver another address at Ram Ki Paidi between 6:55 PM and 7:05 PM, and the grand celebrations will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display from 7:40 PM to 7:50 PM.
Stringent Security Arrangements Across 20 Zones
To oversee the massive celebrations, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan is attending the event alongside Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who will remain stationed in Ayodhya throughout the day. Given the massive influx of pilgrims, security has been tightened significantly. The entire city has been divided into 20 distinct zones and 53 sectors. Police forces, CRPF personnel, PAC units, bomb disposal squads, and fire department personnel have been deployed extensively to ensure a safe and peaceful event.
