Ayodhya is not just a pilgrimage city or a spiritual centre, but also a complete tourist destination. Not only worship is done in the ghats and temples here, but culture and traditions are also imbibed here. Architecture and art get embodied.
The ancient city of Ayodhya is known as the site of the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana and the birthplace of King Rama. The city is located on the banks of the Sarayu River and was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala.
Ayodhya History
The city of Ayodhya was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Ayodhya, where Lord Rama was born. It is also mentioned in Hindu mythology and Ramayana. The ancient scriptures of the Atharva Veda describe Ayodhya as a city built by the gods and compare its prosperity with the glory and splendour of heaven. Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire in India built a mosque in Ayodhya. It became part of the great Mughal Empire and was ruled by them for many years. After the fall of the Mughal Empire, it became part of the Aur Territory, which was later annexed by the British.
Ayodhya is one of the ancient and seven holy pilgrimage sites of Hindus. There are 10 thousand temples here and it is called the city of Temples. There are 200 such pilgrimage sites in Ayodhya of 84 kos including Shri Ram Janmabhoomi, which are historical. Although Ayodhya is mentioned in many Puranas including Matsya Purana, and Vishnu Purana, in Skanda Purana, there is a mention of the Saryu river, a major temple, Kund.
Ayodhya is described as Ishpuri in the Atharvaveda. Its splendour has been compared to heaven. Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Shri Ram, is considered to be of Tretayuga. However, the present Ayodhya is 2,000 years old and inhabited by King Vikramaditya. The description of Diwali in Ayodhya is also in the Vedas and Puranas. When Lord Rama came to Ayodhya after killing Ravana, the lord of Lanka, the city of Ayodhya welcomed him. Lamps were lit from house to house, dishes were prepared and there was gaiety.
Ayodhya is situated on the wheel of Lord Vishnu
Mandakini Ramkinkar, the successor of Yugtulsi Pandit Ramkinkar Upadhyay and chairperson of Ramayanam Trust, told that Ayodhya is the first city in the world. Manvendra Manu was born in Ayodhya itself. This is a very ancient city, whose description is found in Vedas, Puranas, etc. The present temples of Ayodhya are 200 to 500 years old, but the shrines date back millions of years ago. Ayodhya is arched and rests on the wheel of Lord Vishnu. Its 9 gates are mentioned in ancient scriptures.
Culture & Tradition- Ayodhya
The cultural heritage of the district originated in the past from the Tihya Suryavanshi kingdom. King Raghu was a shiny character in the Suryavanshi Kshatriya dynasty, after which the Suryavanshi became popularly known as the Raghu dynasty. Sri Rama was born in the third generation of Raja Raghu, whose image is still alive in the hearts of all Hindus as the Hindu God. The period of Ramayana was probably the most glorious in the history of ancient India.
This era marked not only the collection of the holiest scriptures, Vedas, and other sacred literature that laid the foundation of Indian culture and civilization but also the age of law and truthfulness. The regent held his affairs accountable for matters relating to the reputation of the state and society. The integrity of the information lies in the unwavering reverence for the epic even after three thousand years. Lord Rama was the ‘ideal man’ of the Ramayana – every true ideal of human behaviour.
His fourteen years in exile fascinated the human mind more vividly than at any other time. Because he wandered in the wilderness only to honour his father’s word, abandoning his rightful heritage. Apart from these, Ayodhya also had a special place in Indian history. So Ayodhya has also enjoyed a prominent position from a religious and historical point of view.
Famous Festivals in Ayodhya
Ram Leela: Ayodhya
Ram Leela, the storytelling of Lord Rama is believed to have been started by the great saint Tulsidas. His Ramcharita Manas still forms the basis of Ram Leela. The story is presented as Ram Leela as a cycle game within 31 days from to. The performance of Ram Leela evokes a festive atmosphere and enables one to observe religious rites.
The four main Ram Leela styles are the pentomic style with a predominance of jhanki – table boxes; the Dialogue – style based on multi-local stage; The operative style that draws musical instruments from the region and the background to the local opera – the professional mandala called Ram Leela is famous for the Mandlis ’Ayodhya Mandali Ram Leela. The performance is dialogue-based and presented on the platform stage. The performance is complemented by high-quality songs and wood dance, and impressive decorations.
Ayodhya, the holy place of pilgrimage for Hindus is the organizer of the Ram Navami festival in April. Thousands of devotees gathered at the Kanak Bhavan to worship the Lord.
Shravan Jhula Mela- Ayodhya
This fair celebrates the sports consciousness of the gods and goddesses. On the third day of the second half of Shravan, images of gods and goddesses (especially Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita) are rocked in the temple. These are also taken at Mani Parvat, where idols are swayed from tree branches. Later the gods and goddesses were brought back to the temple. The fair lasts till the end of Shravan month.
Traditional Food | Ayodhya Famous Food
Chaat:
The streets of Ayodhya sell colourful chats filled with vendors covered in a mixture of spicy chutneys. This is a very favourite tangi and crispy snack. Chaat is an all-time favourite street food of the people there, rich in colour and flavour. It is found in sweet and sour as well as tangy and spicy varieties. You can enjoy chaat with potato tiki, Pani puri, kachori, samosa, and papdi chaat.
​North Indian Thali:
Most of the restaurants in Ayodhya choose one of the North Indian dishes. One of the most popular menu items in town is the North Indian Vegetarian Thali. A typical dish consists of two to four chapatis, rice, a dal, a vegetable, a salad, pickles, papads, and a dessert. The ingredients of the dish vary according to its size and price.
Due to the land puja of the Ram temple, a lot of people have gathered in Ayodhya. Located on the banks of the Saryu River, Ayodhya is a small town but a major religious centre in the Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh. It is famous as the birthplace of Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Every year, pilgrims from all over the country reach Ayodhya to visit Ram Janmabhoomi, Ramkot, Hanuman Gari, and many more religiously essential places. Since it is a prominent spiritual position, the meals are only vegetarian, and there is no substitute. However, enjoying the regional flavours in the small restaurants and street food pairs of Ayodhya is like feeding your soul.
Government’s New Approach
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will review the future outlook for the development of Ayodhya in a virtual meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today. Sources confirmed on Friday that the future outlook includes modernization, roads, infrastructure, railway stations, airports, and a few other pending projects.
Earlier in February this year, Adityanath said that the Center had approved the state government’s proposal for an international airport in Ayodhya.
