25 lakh diyas to be lit in 4-day Deepotsav celebrations at Ayodhya from October 28

Lucknow: The temple town of Ayodhya, which had witnessed the historic 'pran pratistha' of Lord Ram in January this year, is all set to host four-day Deepotsav celebrations beginning October 28, the first such event after the consecration ceremony.

The Deepotsav celebrations will be held from October 28 to October 31, the UP government said in a statement.

In a grand and spectacular display of devotion and festivity, more than 25 lakh diyas will illuminate various ghats, including Ram Ki Paidi and Naya Ghat.

This year's Deepotsav in Ayodhya will be marked by modern lighting and artistic installations aimed at transforming the city into a visual glory. The celebrations will feature intelligent dynamic colour-changing LED panels and multimedia projections that will adorn not only the main venues but also various locations throughout Ayodhya.

Welcome gates, designed with thematic lighted arc pillars, will greet visitors at Ram Ki Paidi and Naya Ghat. Key pathways, including the Bhakti Path, will be illuminated with attractive lighting and floral decorations.

Additionally, the Gonda Bridge on the route from Ayodhya to Gonda and the Basti Bridge on the route from Ayodhya to Basti will be lit up, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

The entire Ayodhya Dham, including all major temples, will be adorned with special artistic decorations, with lighting taking centre stage. Over 500 significant sites in the city will feature eye-catching signage boards and 20 artistic installations will be placed throughout Ayodhya to enhance the festive atmosphere during the Deepotsav celebration.

Cultural programmes will be organised in multiple shifts each day, with the main event lasting 45 minutes. Over 100 artists will perform at Ram Ki Paidi and other key venues, bringing to life various episodes from the life of Lord Shri Ram.

The main programme will also feature a breathtaking laser show, multimedia projections and a choreographed firecracker display. The highlight will be an environmentally friendly firecracker show that will illuminate the Ayodhya sky for over 10 minutes, filling it with vibrant colours and lights.

In a unique blend of tradition and technology, the Deepotsav will also introduce a virtual reality platform that offers immersive experiences of Ayodhya's sacred sites. Pilgrims and visitors will be able to virtually explore prominent locations such as Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Hanuman Garhi Temple, Nageshwar Nath Temple, Ram Ki Paidi and many others, the statement said.

An idol of the new Ram Lalla was consecrated at the Ayodhya temple on January 22, a landmark event led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who also gave a clarion call to go beyond the grand mandir's construction to build the foundation of a "strong, capable and divine" India of the next 1,000 years.

As the inauguration of the temple marked the culmination of a decades-long campaign, mostly under the Hindutva banner, to reclaim a disputed religious site in Ayodhya, Modi said it was the advent of a new era.

Lakhs of people watched the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony on television at their homes and in neighbourhood temples, savouring the historic moment just months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and 34 years after BJP veteran L K Advani's iconic 'Mandir Wahin Banayenge' speech during his rath yatra that shaped Ram Mandir politics.