The Yogi Adityanath government’s eighth Deepotsav celebration in Ayodhya brought the city alive with vibrant tableaux and a grand procession. Eighteen special tableaux, depicting episodes from ‘Ramcharitmanas’, were showcased along the route from Saket Mahavidyalaya to Ram Katha Park, drawing large crowds on Wednesday.

Culture and Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh, MLA Ved Prakash Gupta, Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi, and others inaugurated the tableaux. As they moved through the streets, devotees captured these powerful scenes on their mobile phones, while fireworks and coloured gulal filled the air. 

Saket College students beautifully illustrated iconic moments from ‘Ramcharitmanas’, from the Putreshti yajna to Shri Ram’s coronation, bringing each scene to life through skillful portrayals.

Folk artistes enhanced the spectacle, engaging the audience with live narrations between tableaux.

For this year’s Ayodhya Deepotsav, Saket Mahavidyalaya crafted 18 stunning tableaux, 11 were prepared by the Information department and seven by the Tourism department. The Tourism department’s tableaux beautifully depict scenes from the seven chapters of Tulsidas’ ‘Ramcharitmanas’ — Bal Kand, Ayodhya Kand, Aranya Kand, Kishkindha Kand, Sundar Kand, Lanka Kand and Uttar Kand — bringing the essence of the Ramayana to life for devotees.

The eighth Deepotsav included special displays illustrating key episodes in Shri Ram’s life: from his education and marriage to Sita, the forest exile, Bharat Milap, Shabri’s devotion, Ashok Vatika, Hanuman’s journey to Lanka, Laxman’s injury from Shakti arrow, Ravana’s defeat, and the grand return to Ayodhya for Deepotsav.