Lucknow: With streets bathed in colourful lights, ghats decked up for a sea of flickering diyas and the temple town reverberating with festive fervour, Ayodhya is set to celebrate the 10th edition of Deepotsav on Saturday.As preparations gather pace to illuminate 56 ghats along the Saryu and other prominent locations with 30 lakh diyas, Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan will inaugurate the celebrations in the presence of Governor Anandiben Patel, chief minister Yogi Adityanath and religious leaders.From the illuminated Ram Ki Paidi and brightly decorated Lata Mangeshkar Chowk to the bustling streets lined with festive installations, Ayodhya is wearing a celebratory look.The festivities, featuring cultural performances, laser and drone shows, musical fireworks and Ramlila presentations, have already drawn international tourists and brought a surge in business for small traders.Preparations are underway across Ram Ki Paidi, Saryu ghats, Ram Katha Park and major intersections, where decorative lighting, cultural performances and religious programmes will mark annual celebrations.Ram temple will also be illuminated with colourful lights.Vice-President Radhakrishnan will offer prayers at the Ram temple before attending Deepotsav celebrations.He will participate in religious ceremonies at Ram Katha Park, including prayers and ‘aarti’ of Ram-Janaki, and felicitate seers. He will also attend Saryu Aarti at Naya Ghat and participate as chief guest in the main Deepotsav programme at Ram Ki Paidi. He will witness musical fireworks before returning to Delhi.Chief minister Yogi Adityanath will join the Vice-President, governor Anandiben Patel and religious leaders for the celebrations. Deputy chief ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, along with several ministers and public representatives, are also expected to attend the event.A procession depicting the symbolic return of Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshman to Ayodhya will feature participation from 13 states, with tableaux showcasing episodes from the Ramayana. Major roads, including Dharm Path, are being decorated with thematic lighting and LED panels.Ram Ki Paidi will host 3D projection mapping, laser shows and live cultural performances, while a drone show depicting scenes from the Ramayana and musical fireworks at Naya Ghat will be among the major attractions.Ramlila troupes from India and abroad will stage performances, while nearly 2,000 artists will participate in cultural programmes across the temple town.Meanwhile, the festivities have attracted visitors from abroad, including Shane, an Australian tourist who travelled to Ayodhya after learning about Deepotsav while witnessing Diwali preparations among the Indian community in Malaysia.Shane, who is on a spiritual journey across India, said he was impressed by the illuminated streets, cultural performances and decorations at Ram Ki Paidi and Lata Mangeshkar Chowk.“Ayodhya is extraordinary. I feel completely safe here, and the atmosphere is filled with positive energy,” he said. Shane will remain in Ayodhya till Monday before proceeding to Varanasi.The growing tourist footfall has also benefited small traders operating along the Saryu ghats. Vendors selling ‘Ramyantra’, a traditional devotional musical instrument, are reporting higher earnings during the festive period.Sachindranath, a vendor from Gorakhpur, sells a pair of ‘Ramyantras’ for Rs 50. His daily earnings, normally between Rs 800 and Rs 1,000, have increased to Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,500 during Deepotsav.Similarly, Rajendra Mahtur from Bihar, who has been selling ‘Ramyantras’ for three years, said his daily income increased from around Rs 800 to Rs 2,000 during the celebrations. He attributed the increase in sales to the growing number of visitors following the construction of the Ram temple.The district administration has deployed magistrates at major venues and assigned separate responsibilities for crowd management, traffic, cultural programmes and VIP movement.Chief development officer Krishna Kumar Singh will supervise arrangements at Ram Katha Park, while additional district magistrate Amit Kumar Bhatt will oversee activities at Ram Ki Paidi.ADM City and Mela Adhikari, Dinesh, will supervise arrangements for lighting of diyas, while ADM Indrakant Dwivedi will oversee traffic management.District magistrate Shashank Tripathi said the security and convenience of devotees and guests remained the administration’s priorities.‘Yogi govt’s efforts have given Deepotsav global recognition’On the eve of Deepotsav, seers hailed the Yogi Adityanath govt for its efforts in organising the event in Ayodhya and said that Deepotsav has earned global recognition.Jagatguru Swami Satishacharya, who visited the town to review preparations, said Deepotsav should inspire people to follow Lord Ram’s ideals beyond the ceremonial lighting of lamps.“Just as Ayodhya was illuminated with lamps upon the arrival of Shri Ram during Treta Yuga, today, through the efforts of Yogi ji, same city of Lord Ram is once again conveying the message of light to the entire world,” he said.Saint Shashikant Das said, “The concept of Ram Rajya is based on love, harmony, equality and social cohesion. The ideals of Prabhu Shri Ram continue to have the power to show society the right direction even today.”Sant Akash Das said, “Before 2017, there was a sense of uncertainty among the youth regarding religion, Sanatan and culture. CM Yogi served as a guiding force and made meaningful efforts to reconnect youth with their traditions and cultural heritage. The youth have developed stronger faith in the preservation of their culture and Sanatan traditions.”