3-day Ayodhya Deepotsav begins with ‘Run for Astha’
LUCKNOW:‘Run for Astha’ —a race for all — marked the beginning of the three-day Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya on Thursday.
Additional chief secretary Awanish Kumar Awasthi flagged off the race at around 6 am. It began at the Panch Koshi Parikrama Marg and ended at the starting point.
Several other cultural functions were also organised as part of the three-day celebrations. The Ram Katha Sanghralaya, Guptar Ghat and Bhajan Sthal were venue of these events.
Folk dances of Awadh and Bundelkhand region, Ramlila performance by artists of Nepal and Sri Lanka, puppet show by artists of Udaipur and devotional songs were the highlights of the day one of the fair.
On Friday, several other events are lined up, including Ramlila performance by artistes from Indonesia.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel will be chief guest on last day of the event on October 26.
This year, the Ayodhya administration has planned to break the last year’s Guinness World Records of lighting 3,00,1,152 earthen diyas.
Instead, the place will be decked up with 5.51 lakh earthen diyas setting a new world record.
The historic Ram Ki Paidi will be illuminated with four lakh diyas and remaining 1.50 lakh diyas will be illuminated at major religious places across the city.
All government-run primary and higher secondary schools in Ayodhya will also be illuminated along with police stations and police outposts. All prominent crossings in the city will be illuminated with LED lights.
The local administration has also asked saints of Ayodhya to help in illuminating hundreds of temples dotting narrow lanes in Ayodhya. A team from Guinness World Records will be present to judge the event.
The Deepostav event on the final day will start with tableaux of Ram Katha featuring lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. The procession will start from Saket College and will end at Ram Katha Park.
The state broadcaster Doordarshan will telecast live this year’s Deepotsav and for locals large TV screens will be put up across the city.
The CM and governor will welcome Lord Ram and Sita and a chopper will shower rose petals on the deities at the main event, said an official.