Ayodhya, October 29 : Ayodhya celebrates the long-awaited arrival of Ram Lalla as it gears up for Deepotsav on Wednesday. After 500 years, over 3.5 million diyas will light up Ramnagari and more than 2.5 million at Ram Ki Paidi today, creating a historic spectacle.

The celebrations will commence in the morning with a vibrant fusion of spirituality, culture, and tradition, as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Tourism-Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and UP ministers witness the festivities. This year’s Deepotsav marks the first since Ram Lalla's consecration in the grand temple, making it an eagerly anticipated event across Uttar Pradesh.

The procession, starting from Saket Mahavidyalaya, will feature 18 tableaux—11 by the Information Department and 7 by the Tourism Department—depicting scenes from the Ramayana.

Artists from different states will bring their unique cultures through traditional folk dances like Faruahi, Bamrasiya, Mayur, Bahrupiya, Awadhi, and Tharu. The event will conclude with a stunning display of fireworks and rangoli, celebrating the eighth Deepotsav under the Yogi government in a city beautifully adorned for the occasion.

Leading the Deepotsav celebrations, Chief Minister and Gorakshapeethadhiswar Yogi Adityanath will arrive in Ayodhya by 2:30 PM, landing at Ram Katha Park.

Following his arrival, he will preside over the coronation ceremony of Lord Shri Ram and Sita, with the Chief Minister, Union Ministers, and other dignitaries pulling the ceremonial chariot before the coronation. CM Yogi will also address the public during the event.

This year promises to set another remarkable record with the Maha Aarti on the banks of the Saryu River. The evening Aarti will feature the Chief Minister alongside 1,100 batuks, 157 saints, and a grand spectacle of unity with all batuks dressed in uniform attire. This gathering is itself a record, with the 15-minute Aarti offering a profound spiritual experience.

The lighting of over 2.8 million diyas across 55 ghats, including Ram Ki Paidi, will begin as dusk falls. Volunteers from Avadh University, numbering 30,000, have taken on the responsibility of illuminating Ayodhya, and once lit, a Guinness Book team will use drones to verify the count, with results expected by 8 PM.

A dazzling aerial drone show will bring Ayodhya's skies to life with 500 drones displaying vibrant visuals of Lord Ram, Lakshman, and Hanuman. The show, using Indian-made drones, will recreate scenes like Ravana Vadh, Pushpak Viman, Deepotsav, and Ram Darbar Valmiki, along with laser light displays, voiceovers, and music for a captivating experience. Grand fireworks on the Old Saryu Bridge will add to the spectacle.

Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will join CM Yogi at the event. The main stage at Ghat No. 10 will be where the Guinness Book certificate will be awarded to mark the record-breaking lighting of diyas. Late in the evening, CM Yogi will also view the Ramleela at Shri Ram Katha Park and will spend the night in Ayodhya, visiting Hanumangarhi and Ramlala in the morning before departing for Gorakhpur.