In Ayodhya, S Korea Prez’s wife welcomes ‘Ram Durbar’

Ayodhya (UP), November 6

South Korea’s First Lady Kim Jung-sook arrived in Ayodhya on Tuesday to attend Diwali festivities in the holy city and began her tour by offering tribute at the Queen Heo Memorial.

Kim visited the site, along with CM Yogi Adityanath, and attended a ground-breaking ceremony for upgrade and beautification of the memorial dedicated to the legendary princess of Ayodhya who went to Korea. Later, she went to the banks of the Saryu to welcome artistes donning the avatar of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita, who arrived at Ram Katha Park in a chopper as part of ‘Ram Durbar’.

Kim’s stand-alone visit to India, which began on November 4, has rekindled interest in the legendary princess who married a Korean king. According to Korean legend, the Princess of Ayodhya went to Korea in 48 AD and married King Kim-Suro. A large number of Koreans trace their ancestry to this legendary princess, who is known as Queen Heo Hwang-ok. “The legend of Queen Heo Hwang-ok binds the two countries culturally, and her visit will further promote our people-to-people ties,” an official said. — PTI