Ayodhya Diwali LIVE UPDATES: All eyes on Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath's 'Deepotsav' ahead of purported Ram Mandir-related announcement

Update at 7.17 PM:  CM Yogi Adityanath thanks South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook, her team of a minister, the mayor of a city in Korea for attending the Deepotsav 

Update at 7.15 PM: CM Yogi Adityanath begins his speech

Update at 7:00 PM: Laser-light show at Deepotsav celebration begins

Update at 6:20 PM:

UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Chief Guest Kim Jung-Sook partake in the lighting of diyas at the Deepotsav celebrations, culminating in the lighting of a massive Diya on the banks of the river Saryu

Update at 6:00 PM: Visuals from Ram Ki Paidi, Ayodhya:

 

Update at 5:39 PM: Yogi Adityanath:

Everyone can see the development in Ayodhya.

*We will build a medical college, named after Dashrath.*

*We are also working to build an airport in Ayodhya and it will be named after Lord Ram*

Update at 5:33 PM: Yogi Adityanath:

Our nation knows what Ayodhya wants. Nobody can do injustice with Ayodhya. Former CMs haven't visited Ayodhya. I've come here six times. 

In the past, people feared to take Ayodhya's name, but we have changed the perception.

*We will build Ram Ji Ki Paidi like Hari Ki Pauri in Haridwar.*

Update at 5:28 PM: Yogi Adityanath:

We came here to join with our past. We can't forget our past.. It is very important to us. Ayodhya is known by the name of Ram only. This sort of celebration is only an example of many future things.

*Yogi Adityanath renames Faizabad district as Sri Ayodhya*

Update at 5:22 PM: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath begins his speech. 

'Happy Diwali to all of us. After a long time, we are here in Ayodhya.'

'We are here for a new pledge.'

'Delegation from South Korea is also here. Thankful to them that they came here to participate. It is our culture to receive guests in a proper way and to give the appropriate respect to them.'

Update at 5:12 PM: I feel privileged to be here with all of you to celebrate Diwali: Kim Jung-Sook, First Lady of South Korea

Update at 4:55 PM: It is a gracious occassion for all of us that we got the opportunity to gather here: UP Governor Ram Naik

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Update at 4:41 PM: UP Governor Ram Naik gives a speech at the Diwali celebrations

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Update at 4:35 PM: UP Minister Rita Joshi addresses the 'Deepotsav' ceremony

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Update at 4:25 PM: Yogi Adityanath lights up the lamp after fecilitating the seers in Ram Katha Park in Ayodhya after felicitation of Lord Ram and Sita

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Update at 4:10 PM: Felicitation of actors playing Lord Ram and Sita by the priests on the stage.

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Update at 4:01 PM: UP CM Yogi Adityanath receives actors who will be playing Lord Ram and Sita in Ayodhya

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Update at 3:38 PM: I welcome the Chief guest, the first lady of South Korea, to Ayodhya: UP CM Yogi Adityanath addresses the gathering at the 'Deepotsav' in Ayodhya

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Update at 3:28 PM: Cultural performances begin in the honour of the first lady of South Korea in Ayodhya

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Update at 3:11 PM: Chief guest, the first lady of South Korea arrives at the venue

Update at 2:48 PM: UP CM Yogi Adityanath observing the preparation at the Ram Natha Park

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Update at 2:40 PM: Visuals of Yogi Adityanath visiting the venue ahead of the celebrations 

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Update at 2:28 PM: Yogi Adityanath with other officials arrive in Ayodhya for the Diwali celebrations

Update at 2:10 PM: Celebrations are taking place in Ayodhya ahead of the arrival of UP CM Yogi Adityanath

Update at 12:00 PM: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath issues an address in Lucknow

Update at 11:48 AM: Yogi Adityanath's Diwali celebrations have begun in Ayodhya

Update at 10:40 AM: Preparations underway for Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya:

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Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's cryptic statements may have kept many guessing, but there is no doubt that all eyes will be on the celebration of Diwali in Ayodhya on Tuesday as the politics surrounding the Ram Janmabhoomi issue reaches a crescendo.

The grand ceremony called 'Deepotsav' which will be celebrated on Tuesday during 'choti Diwali' has important international and national figures attending. South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook will be presiding as the chief guest. CM Yogi Adityanath and his cabinet will be present at the ceremony. Other dignitaries attending the event include UP Governor Ram Naik and Bihar Governor Lalji Tandon.

After not taking a strong stand for the first few days following the Supreme Court deprioritising hearings in the Ayodhya dispute, Yogi Adityanath has recently begun speaking of the Ram Mandir in more concrete terms, even appearing to make assurances that work would in a timely fashion. Most importantly, he is expected to make some form of announcement regarding the Ram Mandir on Tuesday, for which he has issued an invitation to Hindu seers, hundreds of whom assembled at New Delhi's Talkatora stadium over the last few days for the massive 'Sant Sammelan' where a commandment was issued asking the government to bring an ordinance or a law to pave the way for the construction of the Ram Mandir.

READ: Yogi Adityanath Invites Seers To Ayodhya For Diwali; Gives Cryptic Assurance. Read Here

'AYODHYA DIWALI' SEQUENCE OF EVENTS:

The event begins with processions and tableaus on the Ramayana which will be carried from Saket college to Ramkatha park in Ayodhya. It is followed by the laying of the foundation stone of the Queen Suriratna (Heo Hwang-ok) memorial and the inauguration of Ram Bazaar in Shilp Gram.

Later the attendees visit the Ram Katha museum where sand artist from Odisha Sudarshan Patnaik will create an artwork of Lord Ram. 

Finally, characters playing Lord Ram and Sita will arrive in a helicopter at Ramkatha Park after which there will be a rite of anointment as King (Rajyabhishek) for them. This will be followed by a speech by the dignitaries.

An aarti will be conducted on the banks of river Saryu which will be lit by over three lakh diyas and will conclude with a laser show.