Ram Nagari Glows as Ayodhya Turns into a Sea of Lights: Millions of Diyas to Light Up Saryu Ghats At 5 pm

Deepawali has arrived in the holy city of Ayodhya a day ahead of the festival, with the entire temple town decked up for the 10th edition of Deepotsav.

The premises of the Sri Ram Temple, from its courtyard to the main entrance, have been aesthetically decorated. Devotees from different parts of the country have begun arriving to witness the spectacular celebrations along the banks of the Saryu.

Apart from adorning the temple with attractive floral decorations, the temple management has also created special selfie points for visitors, enabling domestic and foreign tourists to capture memories of their visit. The entire temple complex has been illuminated with colourful lights, adding to its grandeur ahead of Deepawali.

The city is in a festive mood, while traders are anticipating a huge footfall and looking forward to brisk business during Deepawali and Bhai Dooj.

Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan, who will inaugurate the Deepotsav, has arrived in Ayodhya. He will participate in the evening celebrations, scheduled to begin around 5 pm, along with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Several religious leaders and sadhus are also expected to attend the inauguration.

According to the proposed schedule, the Chief Minister will reach the helipad near Ram Katha Park at around 2.40 pm. He will witness the grand Deepotsav tableaux and participate in the chariot-pulling ceremony. Subsequently, he will shower flower petals over Ayodhya from a helicopter carrying representations of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita and Lakshman.

A symbolic coronation ceremony of the three divine figures will follow. The Chief Minister will then address sadhus, saints, religious leaders, residents and devotees at an event organised at Ram Katha Park.

He will subsequently proceed to Ram Ki Paidi to participate in the Saryu Aarti and the ceremonial lighting of lamps. Projection mapping depicting the life and story of Lord Ram, along with laser and drone shows, will be among the major attractions.

All 56 ghats along the Saryu River will be illuminated with millions of earthen diyas in an attempt to surpass last year's Guinness World Records achievement.

As many as 2,500 artists from India and abroad are expected to converge on Ayodhya for the 10th Deepotsav to showcase their talents, including through Ramlila performances.

Artists from five countries will stage Ramlila in their respective traditional styles, providing an international platform for the story of Lord Shri Ram. The participation of two teams from South Africa will be a special attraction.

Artists from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Laos and Thailand will also stage Ramlila performances reflecting their respective cultural traditions. These performances will offer audiences a glimpse into the art, music, dance and theatre of different countries, all brought together in Ayodhya.

Artists from the Philippines, Thailand and Russia are also likely to participate.

"Around 2,500 artists from India and abroad will showcase their talents on six small, four medium-sized and two large stages. In addition, performances based on Ramcharitra and Ramkatha from Assam, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Kerala will further enrich the cultural diversity of Deepotsav," officials said.

In his Deepawali message, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the festival of lights was an occasion to cherish India's rich traditions and strengthen the bonds of togetherness.

"May Diwali illuminate every home with happiness, harmony and prosperity. May this festive season inspire us to spread kindness, embrace positivity and work towards a brighter future," he said.

Modi urged people to move forward with renewed energy and determination towards building a prosperous and 'Viksit Bharat'.

Deepawali has arrived in the holy city of Ayodhya a day ahead of the festival, with the entire temple town decked up for the 10th edition of Deepotsav. The premises of the Sri Ram Temple, from its courtyard to the main entrance, have been aesthetically decorated. Devotees from different parts of the country have begun arriving to witness the spectacular celebrations along the banks of the Saryu.

Apart from adorning the temple with attractive floral decorations, the temple management has also created special selfie points for visitors, enabling domestic and foreign tourists to capture memories of their visit. The entire temple complex has been illuminated with colourful lights, adding to its grandeur ahead of Deepawali.

The city is in a festive mood, while traders are anticipating a huge footfall and looking forward to brisk business during Deepawali and Bhai Dooj.

Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan, who will inaugurate the Deepotsav, has arrived in Ayodhya. He will participate in the evening celebrations, scheduled to begin around 5 pm, along with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Several religious leaders and sadhus are also expected to attend the inauguration.

According to the proposed schedule, the Chief Minister will reach the helipad near Ram Katha Park at around 2.40 pm. He will witness the grand Deepotsav tableaux and participate in the chariot-pulling ceremony. Subsequently, he will shower flower petals over Ayodhya from a helicopter carrying representations of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita and Lakshman.

A symbolic coronation ceremony of the three divine figures will follow. The Chief Minister will then address sadhus, saints, religious leaders, residents and devotees at an event organised at Ram Katha Park.

He will subsequently proceed to Ram Ki Paidi to participate in the Saryu Aarti and the ceremonial lighting of lamps. Projection mapping depicting the life and story of Lord Ram, along with laser and drone shows, will be among the major attractions.

All 56 ghats along the Saryu River will be illuminated with millions of earthen diyas in an attempt to surpass last year's Guinness World Records achievement.

As many as 2,500 artists from India and abroad are expected to converge on Ayodhya for the 10th Deepotsav to showcase their talents, including through Ramlila performances.

Artists from five countries will stage Ramlila in their respective traditional styles, providing an international platform for the story of Lord Shri Ram. The participation of two teams from South Africa will be a special attraction.

Artists from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Laos and Thailand will also stage Ramlila performances reflecting their respective cultural traditions. These performances will offer audiences a glimpse into the art, music, dance and theatre of different countries, all brought together in Ayodhya.

Artists from the Philippines, Thailand and Russia are also likely to participate.

"Around 2,500 artists from India and abroad will showcase their talents on six small, four medium-sized and two large stages. In addition, performances based on Ramcharitra and Ramkatha from Assam, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Kerala will further enrich the cultural diversity of Deepotsav," officials said.

In his Deepawali message, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the festival of lights was an occasion to cherish India's rich traditions and strengthen the bonds of togetherness.

"May Diwali illuminate every home with happiness, harmony and prosperity. May this festive season inspire us to spread kindness, embrace positivity and work towards a brighter future," he said.

Modi urged people to move forward with renewed energy and determination towards building a prosperous and 'Viksit Bharat'.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gowri V

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A Journey of Three Decades Time passes faster than we realise. What feels like a journey that began only yesterday has today grown into more than three decades of a meaningful and fulfilling life devoted to education, journalism, and the empowerment of young minds. My professional journey began with journalism training in New Delhi in 1979. I went on to work as an independent journalist, drawing on my fluency in both English and Telugu. Over the years, I have edited and worked on Telugu articles in both languages, an experience that strengthened my command of language and sharpened my understanding of society, people, and contemporary issues. Yet, my principal profession and enduring passion have always been teaching. My decision to become a teacher was not merely a career choice—it was a calling. Teaching offered me the rare privilege of inspiring young minds, guiding them through their formative years, and making a lasting difference in their lives. I found immense satisfaction in simplifying complex concepts, nurturing curiosity, encouraging independent thought, and building confidence among students. Every moment in the classroom—every question, every moment of discovery, and every spark of understanding—reminded me why I had chosen this path: to empower young people through knowledge, values, and essential life skills. My teaching career began at the grassroots level as a Montessori teacher and gradually progressed to the position of Vice Principal. I had the opportunity to work in reputed educational institutions, including Dilsukhnagar Public School in Hyderabad, where I shouldered both teaching and administrative responsibilities. Although I have always considered myself, at heart, a teacher, my administrative experience enabled me to understand and contribute to the education system from a much broader perspective. For my students, I have always tried to be an approachable and dependable presence—someone they could turn to not only for academic support, but also for guidance and emotional encouragement. At the same time, I developed a reputation as a firm disciplinarian who believed that integrity, fairness, responsibility, and discipline were fundamental to education. I was also consistently appreciated for maintaining clear communication with parents and staff and for ensuring that examinations and other academic processes were conducted with transparency, fairness, and efficiency. As my career progressed, however, I began to feel that academic education alone was not enough. This realization led me to work more closely with students following the SSC and CBSE curricula, while consciously bringing life-skills education into my teaching. I came to understand that education becomes truly meaningful when it prepares children not merely to pass examinations, but to face life. Teaching emotional resilience, self-reliance, social awareness, communication, decision-making, and other practical life skills often had a deeper and more lasting impact than academic achievement alone. I saw how these skills could help students navigate challenges with greater confidence, maturity, and responsibility. My academic background provided a strong foundation for this approach. My degree in Psychology from the University of Madras helped me develop a deeper understanding of young people's minds, their emotional needs, and the influence of their family and social environments. My M.A. in Telugu with First Class from Osmania University.

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