As the Uttar Pradesh government gears up to create a new record for the Deepotsav, you can also become a part of it for as little as Rs 101.
On Holy Ayodhya, an app created by the UP department of tourism, devotees can offer anywhere between one and 51 diyas. On Thursday night, the price of one diya—for which the devotee was to receive a digital photo— was Rs 51. But demand drove up the price overnight.
One normal sized earthen diya costs Re 1.
For Rs 251, devotees can get 11 diyas and prasad from the Sri Ramjanmbhoomi. For Rs 501, the number of diyas goes up to 21 and a Ram Naami gamcha and water from the Saryu are thrown in to the package. Rs 1,110, gets a devotee 51 diyas and additionally a miniature model of the Ram Mandir.
The government’s goal this time is to create a record with 21 lakh diyas. Record setting is something always on the government’s mind and such records have been repeatedly created in the preceding years. Students, citizens and volunteers come together to mark the spectacle at the Ram ki Paidi—a series of ghats on the banks of the Saryu. Last year, 17 lakh diyas were lit up, while the year before that the number was nine lakh.
The flip side of this is that what was once purely a people’s celebration has morphed into one where people are kept away and have to satisfy themselves with looking at the diyas glimmering on the ghats from afar.
Meanwhile, traders in Ayodhya are miffed by the fact that peak shopping season has been hampered by security requirements put in place firstly for the cabinet meeting on November 9 and secondly, for the Deepostav itself. Diwali, falls on November 12.
Strict traffic arrangements are in place. Even the media covering the event must be in place by 12 pm.
