Mini-Diwali: Prayers on lips, residents rejoice with diyas, crackers & sweets

Lucknow: For city residents, Wednesday was no less than a Diwali as they illuminated their houses with diyas, distributed sweets and burst firecrackers to celebrate Ram temple bhoomi pujan in Ayodhya.

Chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and waving saffron flags, residents came out to celebrate the occasion. Prominent streets and crossings were decorated with colourful lights.

Residents of Alambagh, Krishnanagar, Indiranagar and LDA Colony among others welcomed the move with fireworks and decorated their houses with lights and earthen lamps.

Saurabh Minotra, a resident of LDA Colony, and his two sons burst firecrackers. “Our kids are lucky that they were able to witness this historic moment. Both my sons are young but they know the importance of Ram temple and are very much eager to visit it. Therefore, we celebrated the day like any other special occasion,” he said.

Some of the families even put up speakers and played bhajans dedicated to Lord Ram. They also lit diyas in their houses. “It is a moment of celebration. Though we are far from Ayodhya, we are vert excited,” said Nilesh Rai, a resident of Rajajipuram.

Residents of Purana Qila fed cows and marked the day with chants of ‘Hare Krishna, Hare Rama’, and ‘bhajans’ and ‘kirtans’.

Members of Sindhi community in Alambagh, Krishnanagar and Indiranagar welcomed the move by bursting firecrackers and decorating their houses.

“This is a historic moment for all. After performing ‘aarti’ of Lord Ram inside our houses, we celebrated the occasion as a mini-Diwali and distributed sweets among residents. After the pandemic ends, we will visit the grand Ram Temple,” said Ashok Motiyani, spokesperson of UP Sindhi Samaj. Conch shells and dhol beats resonated in Aminabad as residents and members of Aminabad Vyapar Mandal took part in celebrations. The members also honoured kar sevaks associated with the Ram temple movement.

“It is a moment of joy for all of us. Due to security and other reasons, we couldn’t be there in Ayodhya to witness the event but we celebrated the beginning of the construction of Ram temple,” said Atul Awasthi of Aminabad Vyapar Mandal. Residents of Ashiyana recited ‘Sundarkand Path’ in their homes. ‘Ram dhun’ reverberated in Kudiyaghat as residents of Chowk lit earthen lamps and remembered those who were associated with the Temple movement. They also performed ‘Gomti Aarti’.

Over 501 earthen lamps were lit at Aishbagh Ramlila ground as Ramlila Samiti members celebrated ‘deepotsava’.

The samiti had also handed over a pot full of soil from Aishbagh Ramlila ground for bhoomi pujan. “After chanting mantras and performing ‘havan’ and ‘puja’, we celebrated the occasion by lighting lamps,” said president samiti Harish Chandra Agarwal. Members of Kayasth Mahasabha performed online ‘aarti’ for Lord Ram. “This is the beginning of a new era,” said OP Srivastava, national president of Kayasth Mahasabha.