In Ayodhya, mythical Ram, Sita touch down in helicopter for grand Diwali ‘homecoming’

Artists dressed as Ram, Sita and Hanuman arrived in a helicopter, and were welcomed by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath.

The “gods” literally descended from the heavens in Ayodhya on Wednesday afternoon as part of a grand Diwali celebration in the holy city led by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath.

Artistes dressed as Ram, his follower Hanuman and wife Sita touched down at the Ram Katha Park in a helicopter, replicating the victorious journey of the trio by the Pushpak Vimana, a mythical flying chariot, as detailed in the Ramayana.

Adityanath then welcomed them and carried out a symbolic coronation of Ram, dressed in traditional attire with a glittering headgear. Overhead, a helicopter showered flowers on the gathering.

The show was part of a Diwali gala that saw hundreds of temples in Ayodhya illuminated with decorative lights. This is the first time that a chief minister is in Ayodhya for the festival that the faithful believe marks Ram’s return to Ayodhya after a 14-year exile.

The state tourism department in association with the Avadh University and the district administration are aiming to set a new world record by lighting more than 171,000 earthen oil lamps on the stairs of the Sarayu ghats at Ram ki Paidi on the Diwali eve.

“How can grandest Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya be complete without the use of modern day ‘Pushpak Viman’ (helicopter) that Lord Ram used to reach Ayodhya after victory over Ravan,” Ved Prakash Gupta, the BJP MLA from Ayodhya, told Hindustan Times on Tuesday.