Dev Deepawali in Varanasi 2023: A Celestial Celebration of Light and Faith
Dev Deepawali is a festival of Kartik Poornima that is celebrated in Varanasi, the city of temples and ghats. It is a spectacle of millions of lamps illuminating the river Ganges and the sky, symbolizing the victory of Lord Shiva over a demon and the descent of gods to Earth.
Varanasi, also known as Kashi or Banaras, is one of the oldest and holiest cities in India. It is a place where spirituality, culture, and history converge, attracting pilgrims and tourists from all over the world. Among the many festivals that are celebrated in this city, Dev Deepawali or Dev Diwali is one of the most spectacular and auspicious ones.
Dev Deepawali means “the Diwali of the gods” or “the festival of lights of the gods”. It falls on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Kartika (November – December), which is 15 days after Diwali, the festival of lights. According to Hindu mythology, this is the day when Lord Shiva killed a powerful demon named Tripurasur, who had conquered the three worlds of heaven, earth, and hell. To commemorate this event, the gods descended to Earth to celebrate with Shiva and lit millions of lamps along the banks of the river Ganges.
Dev Deepawali is also celebrated as the birthday of Lord Kartikeya, the son of Shiva and Parvati, and as the anniversary of the day when Lord Vishnu woke up from his four-month-long sleep (Chaturmas). It is also associated with Guru Nanak Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism, and Jain Light Festival, a day of fasting and charity for Jains.
The main rituals of Dev Deepawali include taking a holy bath (Kartik Snan) in the Ganges, offering oil lamps (Deepdaan) to the river goddess Ganga, and performing a special prayer (Ganga Aarti) in her honor. The ghats (steps leading to the river) and temples of Varanasi are decorated with colorful rangolis (patterns made with colored powder) and flowers. More than a million earthen lamps (diyas) are lit on the ghats, creating a mesmerizing sight that reflects on the water and the sky. Fireworks are also displayed in the night sky, adding to the festive mood.
Dev Deepawali is not only a religious festival but also a cultural one. It is celebrated as part of the five-day Ganga Mahotsav, which showcases various art forms, music, dance, and sports events. The festival also pays tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country by placing wreaths at Amar Jawan Jyoti (the eternal flame) at Dashashwamedh Ghat. Patriotic songs are sung and awards are given to honor their bravery.
Dev Deepawali is a festival that celebrates light, faith, and joy. It is a time when Varanasi truly lives up to its name as the city of light and the abode of gods. It is a festival that attracts people from different religions, regions, and backgrounds to witness and participate in this divine spectacle.
For booking/details contact: +91-8896880005
Related keywords: Dev Deepawali 2023 date, Dev Deepawali Varanasi history, Dev Deepawali significance, Dev Deepawali celebration, Dev Deepawali images
