Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ayodhya on Sunday afternoon to attend the Deepotsav celebrations which will see around 18 lakh earthen lamps being lit to celebrate Diwali.
Modi offered prayers at the Ram temple and also inspected the construction work of the shrine. He performed a symbolic coronation of Lord Ram at the temple town
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel accompanied the prime minister.
Modi will witness an "aarti" on the banks of the River Saryu in the evening, which will be followed by launch of the Deepotsav celebrations, the PMO said in a statement.
Five animated tableaux and 11 Ramlila tableaux showcasing dance forms from different states will also be presented during the Deepotsav.
Modi will also witness a 3-D holographic projection mapping show at Ram ki Paidi on the banks of the Saryu, along with a grand musical laser show, the Prime Minister's Office said.
In a tweet in Hindi, Chief Minister Adityanath said, "Welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi jee, who is continuously restoring the ancient glory of India's identity and Sanatan faith."
Ayodhya Divisional Commissioner Navdeep Rinwa said over 15 lakh earthen lamps will be lit by more than 22,000 volunteers at Ram ki Paidi near the Saryu bank.
The rest will be placed at important intersections and spots, officials said.
Volunteers engaged in lighting the lamps for the Deepotsav started arriving near Ram ki Paidi in the morning itself, and were seen queued up to undergo police checking, even as some cops were keeping a close eye on the area from a tower near the Lata Mangeshkar Chowk.
Volunteers have been told to arrange 256 earthen lamps in a square and the distance between two squares will be approximately two to three feet, Deepotsav organisers said.
Rinwa said there will also be a laser show, 3D projection mapping show and fireworks. Ramlila will also be staged by cultural troupes from other countries and states, he said.
Elaborating on the security arrangement for the Deepotsav, Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of Police Prashant Verma told news agency PTI, "In all, 4,000 cops will be on security and safety duty for the event. Crowd management is a major priority, so that the devotees, tourists and artists do not face any problem."
He added that traffic diversions have also been planned at various places in the city.
This is the sixth edition of Deepostav.
Mahant Raju Das of the Hanumangarhi temple said hectic preparations are underway for the occasion.
Ayodhya Mayor Rishikesh Upadhyay said the entire city is ready to welcome people arriving from different parts of the country and world to witness the spectacle.
With PTI inputs