Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday, 8 November 2026, extended Diwali greetings to the residents of Ayodhya — particularly its underprivileged communities — and issued a stern warning that no force would be permitted to tarnish the holy city's religious identity or cultural heritage. Drawing on the language of the Ramayana, he declared that no 'Manthara' or 'Maricha' — mythological figures associated with conspiracy and deception — would be allowed to cast an evil eye upon Ayodhya.

Key Remarks by the Chief Minister

'We must resolve that, in the times ahead, no Manthara or Maricha shall be permitted to cast an evil eye upon the splendour of our Ayodhya. Any malicious attempt to defame Ayodhya once again or to plunder its glory will not be allowed to succeed,' Yogi Adityanath said while addressing a gathering in the city.

He further pledged that no devotees of Lord Ram would ever again face violence in Ayodhya, in what appeared to be a reference to incidents during previous state governments. 'Never again will bullets be fired at the devotees of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. No one will be able to use sticks or batons against those who chant Jai Shri Ram, nor will there be any restrictions imposed on the Panchkosi, 14-kosi, or 84-kosi parikramas,' he stated.

Outreach to Underprivileged Communities

Beyond the political messaging, the Chief Minister visited a slum settlement near Ramghat Halt to participate in the festivities and distributed sweets and gifts to families from the Nishad and Dalit communities. He also met with sanitation workers and boatmen — communities whose contributions to the city's functioning are rarely foregrounded in official events.

He presented Diwali gifts to municipal councillors who performed exemplary work and said their contributions to the success of the Deepotsav and to keeping Awadhpuri clean 'deserve to be recorded in golden letters.'

Praise for Deepotsav and Sanitation Workers

Lauding the sanitation staff, Yogi Adityanath noted that more than 30 lakh diyas were lit during the Deepotsav the previous evening, with hundreds of thousands of devotees descending on the city's streets and ghats through the night. 'Yet, when I stepped out this morning, I was amazed to see that all the ghats and streets were completely clean — there was no trace of litter or disorder,' he said.

He also acknowledged the contribution of Manjhis and Nishad boatmen at the Saryu Ghats, who he said ensured devotee safety during the Maha Aarti and on key religious occasions such as Amavasya and Purnima, when large numbers take a holy dip in the Saryu river.

Vision for 'New Ayodhya'

Closing his address on a visionary note, the Chief Minister said today's Ayodhya evokes memories of the Treta Yuga — the mythological era of Lord Ram's reign. 'Future generations will remain grateful to you, knowing that when the New Ayodhya was being built, their ancestors also made an invaluable contribution,' he remarked. This comes amid the ongoing transformation of Ayodhya following the consecration of the Ram Mandir in January 2024, which has significantly elevated the city's religious and political profile.