Ayodhya , As Ayodhya prepares for this year’s Deepotsav, which will see 30 lakh diyas illuminated across 56 ghats along the Saryu riverfront, the festive spirit is also bringing new livelihood opportunities for small traders in the city.
“With increased activity in Ayodhya after the temple’s construction, I decided to change my work. Now, I sell magnets and showpieces. The best part is that tourists speak to me with respect. Local traders such as Ramnaresh are also benefiting from the demand. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has set the goal of developing Ayodhya not merely as a religious city but as a global tourism destination.
Through this work, I earn ₹ 600 to ₹ 700 daily. I would describe the transformation in Ayodhya as not 100 per cent, but 200 per cent progress,” he said.
The construction of the Ram Temple and the expansion of religious tourism have opened up new avenues of income for local residents and traders from other states, the Uttar Pradesh government said in a statement. The campaign to develop Ayodhya as a global religious tourism destination under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is beginning to show its impact on the ground, with small traders benefiting from the growing influx of devotees and tourists, it said. After visiting the temple, devotees often buy souvenirs and items associated with their faith to take back home, providing a source of income for small shopkeepers, the statement said. Following the construction of the temple, infrastructure expansion, improved roads, beautification projects, development of ghats and events such as Deepotsav have enhanced the city’s profile as a tourist destination, the statement said.
