Ayodhya, Nov 7 (PTI) Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Saturday credited the Ram Janmabhoomi movement for India's and Uttar Pradesh's progress, saying the sacrifices made by devotees of Lord Ram helped bring about a transformation in the country.
Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the 10th Deepotsav celebrations at Saryu banks here, Radhakrishnan said the construction of the grand Ram temple at the deity's birthplace became possible after more than 500 years and the sacrifices and dedication of countless Ram devotees, saints and seers.
"Today, we are proud that we are able to see a temple of Lord Ram at his birthplace. The construction of the grand Ram temple has been made possible by the penance of saints and seers and the contributions of people from the country and abroad," he said.
He described the temple's construction as a remarkable example of public participation and the revival of collective faith, adding that the entire country was proud of the Ram devotees who had contributed to the movement.
"I want to tell you one thing. Today, India and Uttar Pradesh are progressing. The real reason behind all this is the Ram Janmabhoomi movement," the vice president said.
He also extended greetings to people on ‘Chhoti Diwali’ and wished them in advance for Diwali, which will be celebrated on Sunday.
Referring to India's progress in poverty alleviation, Radhakrishnan cited a recent World Bank survey, saying that the country had moved out of the grip of poverty and that around two per cent of its population was now living below the poverty line.
He credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the progress, saying more than 50 crore people had been lifted out of extreme poverty.
He said four crore permanent houses had been built for poor people across the country and that 82 per cent of households were now receiving access to protected drinking water through connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission, including in rural areas.
Highlighting welfare and employment initiatives in Uttar Pradesh, Radhakrishnan referred to schemes such as the Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana and the state's Sewayojan portal, which facilitates employment opportunities for young people.
He said these initiatives were bringing changes in the lives of different sections of society.
The vice president said the state government's focus on women-led development in areas such as education, agriculture, healthcare, housing and entrepreneurship reflected its commitment to the principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas'.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh has become one of the fastest-growing states economically, he said.
"I wish that under the leadership of the chief minister, Uttar Pradesh achieves its target of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy before 2029," he said.
Radhakrishnan also praised the organisation of Deepotsav by the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department, saying that in more than four decades of public life he had not witnessed such a well-organised event 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, referring to the cultural performance presented during the event.
Recounting the growth of Deepotsav, the vice president said more than 1.7 lakh lamps were illuminated when the festival was launched in 2017, adding that the number had risen to more than 26 lakh in 2025, creating a Guinness World Record.
He said more than 30 lakh lamps were planned to be lit at the main Ram Ki Paidi this year, while more than 70 lakh lamps were planned across the wider Ayodhya area.
Radhakrishnan said the celebrations had gone beyond the previous record and reflected the growing scale of the festival.
He also praised the use of more than 2,100 indigenous drones to recreate episodes from the Ramayana in the sky, saying the presentation had transported the audience to the era of Lord Ram.
He said around 1,000 artists had also participated in the cultural programmes, with local artists contributing to the celebrations.
Referring to the message of the Ramayana, the vice president said truth always triumphed over evil. He also said the reconstruction of the Ram temple after 500 years was possible because people had faith in the truth, despite foreign invaders having demolished the earlier temple.
"Lord Ram teaches us that rights must be accompanied by duties and success by service to society," he said.
Radhakrishnan said India must embrace science, innovation and technology to achieve the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, while remaining connected to its values, languages, traditions, culture and indigenous wisdom.
"The millions of lamps illuminated today in Ayodhya and its surrounding areas carry the message that Uttar Pradesh is now Uttam Pradesh," he said.
He commended the state government, Adityanath, his ministers, the administration, participating artists, volunteers, artisans and citizens for making the 10th Deepotsav a celebration of public participation.
He said the ideals of Maryada Purushottam Lord Ram would continue to guide people in discharging their duties towards society and the nation, particularly in working for the welfare of the poor in Uttar Pradesh and across the country.
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)