Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced that the state would be having Diwali celebrations for three days from 3 November to 5 November in Ayodhya, reports The Times of India.
Last year, over one lakh diyas were lit on the ghats of the Sarayu River after a day-long celebration. This year, the Chief Minister himself along with Governor Ram Naik and the entire state cabinet will be present in Ayodhya for the celebrations that would come ahead of the Kumbh next year.
The government has started preparing for the event by roping in a number of professional agencies. Last year, the event was managed by the tourism department of the state. The decision to rope in professional event managers suggests the government wants the celebrations to be grander this year.
Over the last one year, the government has also been working on multiple developmental projects in Ayodhya, including a heritage walk, a museum on Lord Rama depicting his life and times and a Ramayana circuit. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had flagged off a bus service from Nepal’s Janakpur, the legendary birthplace of the goddess Sita, to Ayodhya.
The Chief Minister has approved the programme after reviewing a presentation by a professional event management group entrusted with conducting the event in Ayodhya. During the events, troops from different parts of the world will perform Ram Lila, Principal secretary Avneesh Awasthi told TOI.