Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said shared faith and cultural traditions could bring people together across caste divisions, citing Ayodhya’s annual Deepotsav as an example of social harmony.

In a post on X, Adityanath said, “The rigidity of caste divides society, while shared faith and culture bind it together. Deepotsav in Shri Ayodhya Ji is a living example of this social unity.”

The Chief Minister said governments before 2017 had neglected cultural traditions that could unite society, alleging that caste divisions had instead formed the basis of their politics. He said his government had sought to change this approach by launching Deepotsav in 2017 and turning Ayodhya’s cultural heritage into a celebration involving people from different sections of society.

‘PARTICIPATION, NOT CASTE, DEFINES IDENTITY’

Adityanath said the festival now brings together religious leaders, students, sanitation workers, potters and traders, who participate with equal enthusiasm and devotion.

“Under the inspiring guidance of revered saints and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, religious leaders, students, sanitation workers, potters and traders today participate in this event with equal enthusiasm and devotion,” he wrote.

He added that participation in the festival, rather than caste identity, was what brought people together.

“Here, identity is defined not by caste but by participation. Diyas may be lit by different hands, but their light brings the entire society together. This is the message of Deepotsav. This is the vision of a harmonious society,” the Chief Minister said.

Deepotsav has been organised in Ayodhya since 2017, with the state government presenting it as a celebration of the city’s religious and cultural heritage. Adityanath’s remarks place the festival within a broader political message about social unity, cultural identity and the role of shared traditions in bringing different communities together.

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