Ayodhya (UP), Nov 7 (PTI) Describing the 10th Deepotsav celebrations here on Saturday as "tremendous", Vice President C P Radhakrishnan offered prayers at the Ram temple and witnessed the spectacular illumination of the Saryu riverfront with over 30 lakh earthen lamps.
The Vice President arrived at Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, where Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and other dignitaries received him. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak were also present during the celebrations.
Before the inauguration of Deepotsav, the Vice President participated in the ceremonial 'rajtilak' of Lord Ram at Ram Katha Park, in the presence of Patel and Adityanath. He applied the coronation mark to the deity and also performed the ritual for Goddess Sita, Lakshman, Bharat and Guru Vashistha, followed by prayers and 'aarti'.
The ceremonial proceedings recalled the tradition associated with Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and his coronation, which, according to the Ramayana, the people of the city celebrated by lighting lamps.
The Vice President, the chief guest at the celebrations, also performed 'aarti' on the banks of the Saryu with the chief minister and witnessed the grand Deepotsav at Ram Ki Paidi. More than 30 lakh diyas were illuminated along the Saryu riverfront, while over 70 lakh lamps were lit across the wider Ayodhya region to mark the occasion.
In his address after the rituals, Radhakrishnan praised the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department for organising the event, saying in more than four decades of public life he had not witnessed such a well-organised programme by a government organisation.
"I have never seen such a tremendous, well-organised function by a government organisation like UP tourism. I request all of you to give a big hand to UP tourism for organising such a wonderful function," he said.
Recounting the growth of Deepotsav since its launch in 2017, he said more than 1.7 lakh lamps were illuminated during its first edition, while the number rose to over 26 lakh in 2025, setting a Guinness World Record.
He said this year's celebrations expanded further, with more than 30 lakh lamps at Ram Ki Paidi and over 70 lakh across the wider Ayodhya area.
Radhakrishnan praised the drone show, which featured more than 2,100 indigenous drones and recreated episodes from the Ramayana in the sky. He said around 1,000 artists had participated in the cultural programmes, including local performers. The Vice President's visit was part of the 10th edition of Deepotsav, which has been organised in Ayodhya since 2017.
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)