AYODHYA: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath landed in Ayodhya, an hour before the city begins celebrating it's largest Diwali celebrations 'deepotsav' ever. The city aims to enter Guinness World Records as more than 2000 school and college kids light 2 lakh diyas (earthen lamps) on the eve of Diwali.
7:20 pm: Adityanath performs aarti and light up diyas on the banks of Saryu river in Ayodhya. Governor Ram Naik, Deputy CM KP Maurya accompanied him.
#WATCH UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath performs 'Aarti' on the banks of Saryu river in Ayodhya #Diwali pic.twitter.com/j4S2fAkelp
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 18, 2017
6:50 pm: Diwali celebrations are currently underway at banks of Saryu river in Ayodhya
6:40 pm: 
6:10 pm:
Uttar Pradesh: Banks of river Saryu lit up with lights & earthen lamps as part of #Diwali celebrations. pic.twitter.com/IDMc1EFRMb
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 18, 2017
6:00 pm: "Ayodhya is the land of humanity. We taught the world about humanity through the legend of Ram rajya," said the Chief Minister.
5:50 pm: School and college children start lighting diyas (earthen lamps) at the banks of Saryu river in Ayodhya
5:40 pm: "Those opposed to Lord Ram cannot stop us from developing Ayodhya," says UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya.
5:30 pm: Artists dressed as Ram, Sita and Laxman reach Ayodhya via helicopter as another helicopter showered flowers.
Chants of "Jai Shri Ram" echoed on the banks of the Saryu river as actors portraying the roles of Lord Rama and Sita arrived here on a chopper decked up to resemble the mythological Pushpak Viman - in a recreation of Lord Rama`s return from 14 years of exile to Ayodhya.
5:20 pm: Adityanath and state Governor Ram Naik distribute allotment letters to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in Ayodhya.
4:20 pm: Adityanath arrives in Ayodhya, accompanied by Governor Ram Naik
#WATCH: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath arrives in #Ayodhya, will take part in #Diwali celebrations. Governor Ram Naik also present pic.twitter.com/7gBk9vHfo6
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 18, 2017
The chief minister, who is mahant or the head priest of the Gorakhnath Math (temple), will also perform aarti on the banks of Saryu river.
The diyas will be also lit on the banks of river Saryu to project the rich cultural heritage of Ayodhya - Lord Ram's birthplace.
The state government also plans to build a 100-metre tall statue of Lord Ram in the city.
A series of fuctions and performances have been scheduled for the evening, to celebrate Diwali.
With agency inputs
