No outsiders for Ayodhya fests, borders to be sealed on Nov 11

The five-day Deepotsav celebrations will begin in Ayodhya on November 12

In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ayodhya administration on Friday decided not to allow any outsider to participate in Deepotsav, Kartik Purnima Mela, Panch Koshi and 14 Koshi Parikramas in the temple town this year, an official said.

The borders of the temple town will be sealed from November 11 and only locals will be allowed to take part in the ceremonies.

“No outsider will be allowed in Ayodhya this year on Deepotsav, Kartik Purnima and other festive occasions. All these events will be restricted to locals only,” said MP Agarwal, the divisional commissioner of Ayodhya.

The five-day Deepotsav celebrations will begin in Ayodhya on November 12, followed by formal inauguration of the main event on November 13, the day before Diwali. Other festive events will continue till Kartik Purnima on November 30.

The Ayodhya administration was anticipating the presence of a large crowd this year on Deepotsav and Kartik Purnima as construction work of the Ram temple has begun.

Every year, a large number of people visit Ayodhya from the nearby districts, including Barabanki, Basti, Amethi, Gonda and Ambedkar Nagar for the Deepotsav celebrations. For Kartik Purnima, several lakh people assemble on the banks of the Saryu for ritual bathing in the river.

Ayodhya’s deputy inspector general of police Deepak Kumar will coordinate with police chiefs of the adjoining districts.

The Ayodhya police will create a common WhatsApp group, which will have police personnel from the adjoining districts too. The step is being taken for the quick sharing of information.

The Ayodhya police will start checking the entry of vehicles from November 11 onwards.

During the fourth Deepotsav celebrations, around six lakh diyas (earthen lamps) will be lit at 28 ghats on the banks of the Saryu river.

Last year, the Ayodhya administration created a Guinness World Record by lighting 4.10 lakh earthen lamps at the ghats.

This year, the Ayodhya administration will strive to break last year’s record and around 8,000 students from Ram Manohar Lohia Awadh University and the degree colleges of Ayodhya will be trained for the purpose.