COVID-19 Puts An End To Fabled Ram Leela In Ayodhya This Year, Deepotsav To Go Virtual
The legendary Ram Leela in Ayodhya will not be held this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The authorities have begun preparations to organise a grand celebration of virtual Deepotsav on the occasion of Diwali. A virtual platform will be developed from the banks of river Saryu to Ram Katha Park to control the crowd.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the legendary Ram Leela in Ayodhya will not be held this year.
The Ayodhya administration has refused to allow the staging of Ram Leela in the district amid the COVID-19 spread.
However, the authorities have begun preparations to organise a grand celebration of virtual Deepotsav on the occasion of Diwali in the city.
File Photo
The permission to stage Ram Leela in the city was sought by the 'Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan', the government department that organises the performance, but it was denied by the government, said Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan manager Ram Teerath.
Teerath said the Department had sought permission to hold Ram Leela in the open within the Ayodhya museum premises.
File Photo
Minister for Tourism and Culture Nilkanth Tiwari has issued detailed instructions to the Ayodhya administration for the celebration of a 'Virtual Deepotsav' this year. During a review meeting of the Ayodhya administration officials on the arrangements to celebrate a virtual Deepotsav, Tiwari had said that a new record of lightning ¡®diyas¡¯ would be created during this Deepotsav.
"A virtual platform will be developed from the banks of river Saryu to Ram Katha Park to control the crowd and only the volunteers, following the anti-COVID-19 guidelines will be allowed to light up the lamps," he said. ¡°The common men, however, will connect themselves with this virtual Deepotsav by lighting up 'diyas' in their homes," he said.
