Ayodhya (UP), Oct 30 (FN Agency) The Uttar Pradesh government’s eighth Deepotsav celebration in Ayodhya has brought the city alive with vibrant tableaux and a grand procession. Eighteen special tableaux, depicting episodes from Ram Charitmanas were showcased along the route from Saket Mahavidyalaya to Ram Katha Park, drawing large crowds on Wednesday. Culture and Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh, MLA Ved Prakash Gupta, Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi, and others inaugurated the tableaux. As they moved through the streets, devotees captured these powerful scenes on their phones, while fireworks and coloured gulal filled the air. Saket College students beautifully illustrated iconic moments from Ram Charitmanas, from the Putrayeshti Yagna to Shri Ram’s coronation, bringing each scene to life through skillful portrayals.
Folk artists enhanced the spectacle, engaging the audience with live narrations between tableaux. The procession is set to wind through Ayodhya’s main intersections, culminating at Ram Katha Park by 2 pm, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will welcome the tableaux and ceremoniously greet the idols of Lord Ram, Sita, and Lakshman. A coronation ceremony at the event will mark the grand beginning of Deepotsav. For this year’s Ayodhya Deepotsav, Saket Mahavidyalaya has crafted 18 stunning tableaux, 11 prepared by the Information Department and 7 by the Tourism Department. The Tourism Department’s tableaux beautifully depict scenes from the seven chapters of Tulsidas’ Ram Charitmanas, including Bal Kand, Ayodhya Kand, Aranya Kand, Kishkindha Kand, Sundar Kand, Lanka Kand and Uttar Kand, bringing the essence of the Ramayana to life for devotees. This eighth Deepotsav includes special displays illustrating key episodes in Shri Ram’s life, from his education and marriage to Sita, the forest exile, Bharat Milaap, Shabri’s devotion, Ashok Vatika, Hanuman’s journey to Lanka, Laxman’s injury from Shakti Baan, Ravana’s defeat and the grand return to Ayodhya for Deepotsav.