Ayodhya, November 9
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, “Ram devotees will no longer be fired upon in Ayodhya. No one will be able to wield batons against those chanting Jai Shri Ram in Ayodhya. No one will be able to impose restrictions on the Panchkosi, 14 Kosi and 84 Kosi Parikramas. This should become a symbol of our collective resolve. Ayodhya, the city of Lord Shri Ram, must be developed and taken forward in its clean, beautiful, well-organised and dignified form.”
The Chief Minister was addressing a Diwali Milan Samaroh organised at Nishad Basti near Ramghat Halt in Ayodhya on Sunday. On the occasion, he honoured members of the Nishad community, boatmen, sanitation workers, and councillors and personnel who had performed outstanding work in the field of cleanliness, and presented them with Diwali gifts.
The Chief Minister said, “The Deepotsav was organised on a grand scale yesterday. I have personally come to meet you today to express my gratitude to all of you for the same. Our city should be beautiful, clean and well-organised. When you go somewhere outside and proudly say that you have come from Ayodhya, the person before you will also be compelled to respect you. However, if our city or village is dirty and there is mismanagement and disorder, people outside will say, “Oh, there is so much dirt and disorder there! Let us stay away.” The identity of any city or village is shaped by its cleanliness and organisation. Therefore, it is the responsibility of all of us to uphold Ayodhya’s prestige.”
Commending the work of sanitation workers after Deepotsav, the Chief Minister said, “Lakhs of devotees had visited Ayodhya Dham yesterday. People from Uttar Pradesh and Ayodhya, along with those from across the country and the world, were present in large numbers. More than 30 lakh lamps were illuminated, and a large crowd of devotees remained present until late at night. Despite this, when he stepped out in the morning, all the ghats appeared clean and beautiful. There was no dirt anywhere, no mismanagement and no disorder. Groups of young people could be seen thronging the streets to visit Hanumangarhi and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi. This is remarkable. I extend my greetings to all the sanitation workers who ensured that the entire event proceeded in an organised manner and convey my heartfelt congratulations for the entire event.”
He added that maintaining Ayodhya’s cleanliness and order despite the arrival of such a large number of devotees is commendable in itself. Appreciating the contribution of boatmen and the Nishad community, the Chief Minister said, “Yesterday, during the Aarti of Saryu Ji, all the boatmen were discharging their responsibilities with great alertness. This is a sacred Dham. Every Saturday and Sunday, on every Amavasya and Purnima, and on every important religious occasion and festival, lakhs of devotees visit here. They take a holy dip in the presence of Maa Saryu, enjoy the surroundings, receive blessings and express their faith. However, at times, problems such as slippery surfaces are also encountered while proceeding towards the ghats.”
He further added that the contribution made by our boatmen and members of the Nishad community in Ayodhya with such commitment is highly commendable. That is why I have come to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of them. We have come to carry forward that legacy, and today you are being honoured in the name of Ayodhya.
Referring to Ayodhya’s cultural and spiritual heritage, the Chief Minister said, “People from across the country and the world remember Ayodhya Dham with sacred sentiments and accord it respect. Seeing a resident of Ayodhya also evokes a sense of respect in people’s minds. How did Lord Shri Ram give Ayodhya its identity and glory? When Nishadraj joined him, when he received the affection of Mata Shabari, and when vanaras and bears also came forward to join him, they all together mobilised forces against the demonic powers of that time, and the result is before all of us. When Lord Shri Ram returned to Ayodhya, followers of Sanatan Dharma across the entire country welcomed and felicitated him with great devotion by lighting lamps to celebrate his arrival. Our Rishi tradition, ancestors and saints have kept alive the memory of an event that took place thousands of years ago through festivals and celebrations even today. Diwali, Holi and Raksha Bandhan are examples of this.” He added that similarly, events such as Vijayadashami, Ram Navami, Vivah Panchami and Ayodhya’s Jhoola Mela keep our memories alive.
He said, “Everyone feels excited upon seeing Ayodhya today. The government can undertake work and carry out construction, but the responsibility for maintaining and safeguarding it must rest with local residents. If the government undertakes construction on one side and someone removes stones from there at night the very next day, who will install them again? Therefore, along with development, the protection and preservation of public property are also essential. Ayodhya is beautiful today and evokes memories of the Treta Yuga. The credit for this goes to all of you. Future generations will express their gratitude to you for this.”
He added that when New Ayodhya was being constructed, every person was contributing in one way or another. This is truly an overwhelming moment. The form of Ayodhya that is visible today reflects the contribution of every section of society and every citizen.
The Chief Minister stated that he had come today to meet everyone, present Diwali gifts and convey his greetings. He appealed to everyone to accept the Diwali gifts. Everyone must resolve that no Manthara or Marich should cast an evil eye on our Ayodhya in the times to come. No such evil eye should fall upon Ayodhya with the intention of looting its glory and defaming it once again. Ayodhya, the Ayodhya of Lord Shri Ram, must be developed and taken forward in its clean, beautiful, well-organised and dignified form. He has come among them today with this resolve and to extend Diwali greetings to everyone.
