UP government uses Ayodhya Deepotsav to promote social cohesion
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that the festival brings different communities together through shared traditions rather than caste identities.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has described the Ayodhya Deepotsav as a way to unite communities across various social and caste divisions. According to a report by Mint, the Chief Minister said shared traditions provide a common ground for people to participate together.
Adityanath stated in a post on X that the festival reflects a vision of social harmony. He said that at the event, identity is determined by participation instead of caste.
The Chief Minister noted that various groups, including traders, potters, sanitation workers, students, and religious leaders, take part in the festival with devotion. He credited the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and saints for the development of the event.
Adityanath claimed that governments prior to 2017 neglected cultural forces that could unite society and instead used caste divisions for politics. He said the state government began Deepotsav in 2017 to turn the cultural heritage of Ayodhya into a celebration for different sections of society.
The Chief Minister described the festival as a living example of unity where people from different backgrounds and occupations join a common celebration. He added that the diyas lit by different hands collectively illuminate society.