Yogi Adityanath has announced that Faizabad will be renamed as Ayodhya.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanth has announced that Faizabad will be renamed as Ayodhya. Unlike the annual Diwali celebration in Ayodhya being a day-long event, this time the celebrations have been on for three days, today being the finale.
Yogi Adityanath is expected to make a big announcement today, during his visit to the historically important city. He is likely to announce plans for a grand statue of Lord Ram in his birthplace Ayodhya. Government sources said land for the statue will be acquired by the Uttar Pradesh government but the actual statue might be partially crowd-funded. The South Korean first lady is a chief guest at the event.
The biggest draw from today's Diwali celebration in Ayodhya will be the lighting of 3 lakh diyas along the banks of the Saryu river. It will be an attempt at a world record that the government narrowly missed last year. Around 1.7 lakh diyas were lit last year.
The celebrations this year are also very significant because of the huge political focus on the Ram temple issue, which has gained momentum ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls.
Here are the LIVE Updates from Ayodhya Diwali celebrations:
Communist Party of India general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy on Tuesday described the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to rename Faizabad district to Ayodhya as a ploy to cover up its failure in governance.
The decision, which was announced by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Tuesday, also reflects the "anti-Muslim" sentiments of the BJP, he said.
Banks of Sarayu river lit-up with 3 lakh diyas ahead of Diwali
Yogi Adityanath and South Korean first lady Kim-Jung Sook perform Aarti in the banks of Saryu
Yogi Adityanath participates in Aarti on the stage of Rama Katha Park, Ayodhya
UP's Faizabad District will be known as Ayodhya, Yogi Adityanath announces
Yogi Adityanath during his speech:
I am glad that the South Korea first lady is here to attend the Diwali celebrations with us. For us, guests are God.
Ayodhya owes its identity to Lord Ram. Today, if Diwali is celebrated across the world, it is because of Ayodhya
I want to make sure that Lord Ram's legacy lives forever.
Yogi Adityanath extends Diwali greetings to people in Ayodhya South Korean First Lady Kim Jung -Sook speaks in Ayodhya
Yogi Adityanath welcomed by artists dressed as Lord Ram, Lakhman and Sita in Ayodhya. HE was given a similar welcome at Ayodhya lst year ahead of Diwali.
UP Chief Minister addresses the gathering in Ayodhya:
- Ties between Korea and India go back a long way in history... We all know that nearly 2000 years ago, the princess of Ayodhya had married the prince of Korea.
- The Korean First Lady's visit to Ayodhya will take the cultural ties between India and Korea to new heights.
The state government had announced the building plans for the statue last year, but there has been no concrete action on the ground. Government sources said land for the statue will be acquired by the Uttar Pradesh government but the actual statue might be partially crowd-funded. The Sardar Patel statue in Gujarat cost a whopping Rs. 2500-plus crore.
The chief minister is likely to make a big announcement today regarding the details of a statue of Lord Ram the government is planning to build in Ayodhya.
While inaugurating the Stadium, Yogi Adityanath said, "We plan to promote not just cricket, but all sports across the country. Our Prime Minister has a grand vision for sports in India. We aim to set up large playgrounds in all villages across the country."
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated 'Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium' in Lucknow on Tuesday. Earlier called the "Ekana International Cricket Stadium", it has been renamed to honour former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the chief minister announced.
South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-Sook reches accompanied UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at Ayodhya
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath arrives in Ayodhya for the grand Diwali celebrations.