UP government developing portal for "virtual" lighting of diyas in Ayodhya on Diwali

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh government is developing a web portal that will facilitate a "virtual" lighting of diyas or lamps on the occasion of Diwali in Ayodhya this year - a significant year for Hindus and devotees of Lord Ram with the bhoomi pujan of the Ram temple getting accomplished in August.

While more than 5 lakh earthen lamps will be lit across Ayodhya- along the Ram ki Pauri, and in all temples, Mutts and homes, for those devotees that wish to participate in the festival but cannot due to Covid, a web portal is being developed. The portal will have a portrait of Shri Ram Lalla Virajman before which devotees will be able to light "virtual" lamps.

Before lighting, the devotee will be able to choose from an earthen , brass or copper diya and will also be asked whether he/she would like to choose ghee, mustard oil or sesame oil to light it with. An animated design will then guide the devotee to the darbar of Lord Ram virajman and Hanuman garhi temple and a virtual experience of lighting the diya will be provided to the devotee. In the end, the devotee will also be given an option to click a virtual "selfie" with UP CM Yogi Adityanath.


According to a government spokesperson, the CM is personally overseeing all preparations for the day and will also visit the janmbhoomi campus for an aarti while PM Narendra Modi is expected to join in the celebrations virtually.

"After struggling for 500 years SC finally authorised Central Govt to start constructing Ram Mandir. This Deepotsav would have been attended by crores if not for COVID19. But we're imploring people to not throng here but watch it live digitally," Neelkanth Tiwari, minister of tourism in Uttar Pradesh had said on Saturday.