UP CM Yogi Adityanath
Lucknow: Welcoming guests at the 10th edition of the Deepotsav in Ayodhya on Saturday, chief minister Yogi Adityanath described the occasion as a “remarkable expression of Ayodhya’s cultural consciousness, public faith and devotion to Sri Ram”.
“Deepotsav commenced in 2017 with the lighting of 25,000 diyas, and 10 years later, the city has been illuminated with 25 lakh diyas and the govt has resolved to light 30 lakh diyas next year. Sri Ram resides in every particle,” he said, adding that when Ram returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, he would have been welcomed back with similar celebrations and lighting of diyas. Yogi said that it had been a long struggle to bring Ayodhya back to its previous glory and in the past 500 years, devotees, saints, Naga sadhus, Nihangs and people from every section of society fought to free the city of foreign subjugation.
Ram represents Indian culture and values,” Yogi said. He credited karsevaks, seers and VHP’s Ashok Singhal with taking the Ram Janmabhoomi movement forward, and said that it was under Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Lord Ram had been enshrined in the temple. This is our ideological victory,” the CM said. Ayodhya is the city of Bajrangbali, and Hanumangarhi represents the presence of its guardian deity,” he said. He said that earlier Ayodhya barely received electricity for three hours but now, it was a smart and solar city.
The event was held on Chhoti Diwali as a mark of respect for Lord Ram, whose consciousness is the consciousness of India. “Sri Ram is the lifeblood of the Indian nation and embodies its self-respect. This is why our scriptures recognise Ayodhya as the foremost among the Saptpuris. “Sri Ram never discriminated against anyone. He embraced every section of society. Temples dedicated to Maharishi Valmiki, Maharishi Vishwamitra, Mata Shabari and Jatayu within the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi complex symbolise this inclusive ethos.
“Those who brought batteries of lawyers in courts to question the existence of Lord Ram have today, at the very least, developed the wisdom to acknowledge His existence.