The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a series of events ahead of the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, scheduled for January 2024. The events, collectively called Ramotsav Yatra, will showcase the cultural diversity and unity of India through various programmes across the country.

The Ramotsav Yatra will start from Makar Sankranti, January 14, and will continue till January 22, the day of the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol. The main attraction of the yatra will be the special cultural tableaux (Ramcharan Paduka Yatra) that will be taken out along the Ram Van Gaman Path, the route that Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshman took during their exile.

The tableaux will cover parts of South India as well, where Lord Ram spent a considerable time during his exile. The aim is to use the inauguration of the Ram temple as a bridge between north and south India, and to highlight the shared heritage and values of the country.

Ramotsav Yatra to create world records and involve 120 countries

The state government has set aside a budget of Rs 1.5 crore for the Ramotsav Yatra, and has claimed that several world records will be created during the yatra. Some of the records include the longest continuous recitation of Ramayana, the largest number of people participating in a cultural procession, and the largest number of countries involved in a religious event.

The government has also invited 120 countries of the Global South, which are poorer and less developed than the Global North, to participate in the Ramotsav Yatra. The idea is to champion the concerns and aspirations of the Global South, and to amplify its voice during India’s G20 presidency. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also address the representatives of these countries during the inauguration ceremony.

Ramotsav Yatra to promote tourism and development in Ayodhya

The Ramotsav Yatra is also expected to boost tourism and development in Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram and the site of the Ram temple. The government has planned to develop Ayodhya as a world-class spiritual and cultural destination, with various infrastructure and beautification projects.

Some of the projects include the construction of a grand Ram statue, a Ram museum, a Ram theme park, a Ram circuit, a Ram corridor, and a Ram airport. The government has also announced various welfare schemes and incentives for the residents of Ayodhya, such as free electricity, water, health care, education, and housing.

The Ramotsav Yatra is being seen as a historic and unprecedented event that will mark the culmination of a decades-long struggle for the Ram temple, and will also usher in a new era of peace, harmony, and prosperity for the country.