Ayodhya festivals get 'State Fair' tag, govt funds

Lucknow: The UP government has granted 'state fair' status to Hindu religious fairs or melas held in Ayodhya, Varanasi, Bulandshahar and Hathras on key festivals. The decision, taken at a special cabinet meeting in Ayodhya on Thursday, is likely to help in the funding of their planning and organisation, in line with the government's aim to promote them at a large scale and attract tourists.

The decision was announced in Ayodhya by CM Yogi Adityanath who held a special cabinet meeting in the temple town ahead of the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in January next year in what was said to drum up enthusiasm for the event.

Religious events and fairs, otherwise held locally in Ayodhya on the occasion of Kartik Poornima, Ram Navami, Makar Sankranti and the Deepotsav held in the city on Diwali, will now be given a 'state fair' status.


In Varanasi, the Dev Deepawali, which is held a fortnight after Diwali and witnesses the arrival of lakhs of devotees and tourists to witness lighting of lamps on ghats and laser shows, has also been granted 'state fair' status. Similarly, the fair held on Kartik Poornima in Anoopshahar, Bulandshahr as well as the Lakhi Mela in Hathras held in honour of Dauji Maharaj will also be celebrated as 'state fairs'.

"While the state government cooperated fully with the local administration for the organisation of these fairs, we have taken this decision to ensure that no funding issues arise in future," the CM said in Ayodhya.

Other APPROVALS
Apart from granting 'state fair' status, many decisions related to Ayodhya were also approved. Around 25 acres in the city was allotted for the construction of a 'Temples Museum' -- a project envisioned by the PM to ensure devotees coming to Ayodhya get to know about the history of various temples of various eras. Secondly, it was decided by the Cabinet that the Ayodhya Research Centre existing since 1986 will be expanded to develop it into an international research centre for Ramayana and Vedic studies.