Arrangements for virtual ‘Deepotsav’ in UP’s Ayodhya amid COVID-19 pandemic

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Arrangements have been made for virtual ‘Deepotsav’ this year in Ayodhya as a precaution against the COVID-19 pandemic, as per the directions of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

“As per the directions of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deepotsav 2020 that will be held in Ayodhya, there are arrangements for virtual Deepotsav. Due to COVID-19, devotees who are unable to reach Ayodhya will be able to light a lamp in front of Sri Ram Lala Virajman through the website,” a tweet from the Office of Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh said (roughly translated from Hindi).

अयोध्या में दीवाली इस बार होगी और भी विशिष्ट। 492 वर्षों बाद पहला मौका जब श्रीरामजन्मभूमि पर जलेंगे ‘खुशियों’ के दीप।

मुख्यमंत्री श्री @myogiadityanath जी की पहल से पहली बार हो रही है वर्चुअल माध्यम से दीप प्रज्ज्वलित करने की व्यवस्था। pic.twitter.com/cvbGeyJFAo

— Yogi Adityanath Office (@myogioffice) November 8, 2020

Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Neelkanth Tiwari on Saturday said that Deepotsav will be held for the first time at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, “an event which has been pending for the last 500 years”.

“Over five lakh earthen lamps will be lit in this year’s Deepotsav. And this will be the first time that it will also be held at the Ram Janmbhoomi site, an event which has been pending for the last 500 years,” he said, adding Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath started celebrating Deepotsav under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after taking the oath of office. “Ayodhya Deepotsav entered the Guinness Book of Records in 2018 and this record was broken again in 2019.”