“Many of us have seen many Diwalis, but this Diwali is historic,” Modi said.
“Such an opportunity has come after 500 years…when thousands of lamps will be lit in the temple of Ram Lalla built at his birthplace in Ayodhya…This will be such a Deepawali, when our Ram has returned to his home once again. And this time the wait has not been of 14 years, but of 500 years,” he added.
Earlier, Modi addressed a ‘Rozgar Mela’ and distributed appointment letters for government jobs to more than 51,000 people.
There, he said, this will be the first Diwali when Lord Ram is seated in his grand temple in Ayodhya.
He said that several generations have waited for this Diwali, while many have “sacrificed their lives”. “The current generation is extremely fortunate to witness and become a part of such celebrations,” he said. Preparations for the eighth edition of Deepotsav in Ayodhya are in their final stages with plans afoot to illuminate the city with 28 lakh earthen lamps on October 30, officials said Tuesday.
The event this year holds special significance since this is the first Deepotsav since the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol at the temple.
An idol of Ram Lalla was consecrated at the Ayodhya temple in January this year, a landmark event led by Modi who had also given a clarion call to go beyond the grand temple’s construction to build the foundation of a “strong, capable and divine” India of the next 1,000 years.
Lakhs of people had watched the consecration ceremony on television in their homes and neighbourhood temples, savouring the historic moment.
