Kashi, Mathura must also shine like Ayodhya: Yogi Adityanath at Deepotsav

Reference to Mathura and Kashi by Yogi Adityanath was significant given that both the sites are embroiled in legal disputes regarding the ownership and control of temples and religious sites. 

In Short

• Yogi Adityanath leads Diwali celebrations at Ayodhya's Ram temple
• Says Ayodhya seen as model for Kashi and Mathura's future development
• Lakhs of lamps lit in Ayodhya for a record-setting Deepotsav

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, leading the 'Deepotsav' celebrations at Ayodhya’s Ram temple on Wednesday, said that Ayodhya is just the beginning and that Kashi and Mathura will also shine similarly. He asserted that Ayodhya stands as evidence of a "double-engine government fulfilling its promises".

Addressing the gathering at Deepotsav, the first since the consecration of the Ram Temple in January, the Chief Minister said, "This is historic, as Lord Ram resides in his abode in Ayodhya for Diwali after 500 years".

“This is just the beginning, and it must reach its logical conclusion. By 2047, when India celebrates 100 years of independence, Kashi and Mathura must shine like Ayodhya," Adityanath added.

The mention of Mathura and Kashi was significant, as both sites are entangled in legal disputes over the ownership and control of prominent religious landmarks. Mathura is the focus of the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah dispute, while the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque case is also in court.

The Chief Minister continued, "The double-engine government has fulfilled its commitment; now, Ayodhya must prove itself. The 'agnipariksha' of Maa Sita should not repeat. We must move beyond this, and the people of Ayodhya must rise again. That is why we are here today for this grand celebration."

"There is much more to be done. This is just the beginning. Ayodhya is the starting point for Sanatana Dharma, translating Prime Minister Modi's vision of heritage and development into reality on the ground, and taking that mission to the global stage. The world is witnessing the grandeur and divinity of Kashi," he added.

The Chief Minister also emphasised his government’s commitment to transforming Ayodhya into one of the world’s most beautiful cities, adding that he remembers "all those souls who dedicated their lives for the Ram Janmabhoomi movement".

He also took a jibe at the Opposition, saying that they have become "barriers" to the government's growth agenda. "Just like mafias, these barriers would also be eliminated," he stressed.

Over 25 lakh earthen lamps were illuminated along the banks of the Saryu River in Ayodhya on Wednesday as part of a world record-setting attempt to celebrate the eighth 'Deepotsav'. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath led the festivities alongside his cabinet members and esteemed dignitaries, including Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak.