Faizabad District to be renamed as Ayodhya
Ayodhya (UP), Nov 6 (PTI) Close on the heels of renaming Allahabad as Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Tuesday announced that Faizabad district would henceforth be known as Ayodhya.
“Ayodhya is a symbol of our ‘aan, baan aur shaan’ (honour, pride and prestige),” he said at a grand “Deepotsav” event organised in the pilgrim town, about 120 km from state capital Lucknow.
“We have come here to assure you that nobody can do injustice to Ayodhya, no force in the world can do that,” Adityanath said, adding that the holy city was identified with Lord Ram.
He also announced the setting up of a new airport in Ayodhya named after Lord Ram and a medical college in the name of king Dashrath, father of Lord Ram, in the district.
“Deepotsav is about starting a new tradition,” Adityanath said at the Ram Katha Park here on the eve of Diwali. The event was also attended by the First Lady of South Korea, Kim Jung-sook, and Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik.
Several projects, including those related to the redevelopment and beautification of the “Ram ki Paidi” and the stoppage of sewage disposal in the Sarayu river, were launched at the event.
“We have come to work for Ayodhya and a South Korean
We have come to work for Ayodhya and a South Korean delegation has also come here to connect with its past. Ayodhya’s identity will remain with Ayodhya and this Korean delegation is a witness to that. I want to announce today that this district will now be known as Ayodhya as well
delegation has also come here to connect with its past. Ayodhya’s identity will remain with Ayodhya and this Korean delegation is a witness to that. I want to announce today that this district will now be known as Ayodhya as well,” the chief minister said.
A section of the crowd was also heard shouting “Mandir ka nirman karao” (build a temple).
In his address, Adityanath also hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and described the projects undertaken by the latter as akin to a “Ram Rajya”.
Ayodhya is known around the world for Lord Ram and the festival of Diwali is celebrated due to the legend of him returning home from Exile.