Deepotsav: Faizabad district to be renamed as Ayodhya; hospital, airport will be built: Yogi Adityanath

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Aniruddha Dhar
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Deepotsav: Faizabad district to be renamed as Ayodhya; hospital, airport will be built: Yogi Adityanath

Deepotsav: Faizabad district to be renamed as Ayodhya; hospital, airport will be built: Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced that Faizabad district will now be known as Ayodhya, days his government renamed Allahabad as Prayagraj.

"Ayodhya is a symbol of our 'aan, baan aur shaan' (honour, pride and prestige)" he said in the pilgrim town, about 120 km from state capital Lucknow. "Nobody can do injustice to Ayodhya," he said, adding that the holy city is identified by Lord Ram.

Adityanath was speaking on the occasion of "Deepotsav" on Diwali eve.

He also announced setting up of a medical college in the name of King Dashrath, father of Lord Ram, in the district, adding that an airport will be constructed here named after Lord Ram.

“Nobody can do injustice to Ayodhya,” asserts Adityanath.  

South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook was also present on the occasion. She arrived in Ayodhya to attend Diwali festivities in the holy city and began her tour by offering tribute at the Queen Heo Memorial.

 Kim visited the site, along with Adityanath, and attended a ground-breaking ceremony for upgrade and beautification of the memorial dedicated to the legendary princess of Ayodhya who went to Korea.

Later she went to the banks of the Saryu river to welcome artists donning the avatar of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita, who arrived at Ram Katha Park in a ceremonial chopper as part of 'Ram Durbar'.

Kim garlanded 'Sita' as they descended from the helicopter and Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Adityanath welcomed Lord Ram and Laxman by garlanding them.

 Kim's stand-alone visit to India, which began on November 4, has rekindled interest in the legendary princess who married a Korean king.

The temple town of Ayodhya has been all decked up for the biggest Diwali celebrations where three lakh earthen lamps or diyas will be lit as part of the Deepostsav on Tuesday.

According to Korean legend, a princess of Ayodhya went to Korea in 48 AD and married King Kim-Suro. A large number of Koreans trace their ancestry to this legendary princess, who is known as Queen Heo Hwang-ok in South Korea.

Three lakh earthen lamps, made by local potters, will be lit at the "Ram ki Paidi" followed by a water show and fireworks. Multicoloured lights have been installed at various places in Ayodhya to illuminate the entire city. Beautiful statues of Ram and Hanuman at the Saryu ghat have also been a centre or attraction among the people.

(With agency inputs)

Ayodhya Yogi Adityanath Hospital South korea airport Diwali Ram Faizabad Deepotsav First Lady Kim Jung sook