A celestial manifestation in Varanasi
The Diwali of the Gods or Festival of Lights of the Gods
Venue : Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India (125 km from Allahabad & 245 km from Bodh gaya)
Dates / Time : Contact us for Dev Diwali dates. 15 days after Diwali.
Celebrations : Gods descent to the Ganga ghats at Varanasi and for the Ganga River
Significance : Tripura Purnima or worship of Lord Shiva …
Entry Fee : Free (no entry fee)
Dev Diwali in Varanasi – Overview
Dev Diwali ceremony starts with Ganesh Vandana (offering of prayers to Lord Ganesh) followed by the offering of Deepdaan or diyas (the offering of lit earthen lamps), by 21 Brahmins and 41 young girls with the chanting of Vedic Mantras. Devotees, from all over India, take a dip in Holy Ganges on this auspicious day known as Kartik Snan. This ritual (a holy dip) is believed to rid a person of his/her sins.
History of Dev Diwali
The Dev Diwali festival day was first started in 1985 at the Panchganga Ghat – one of the oldest ghats. This 5 days festival starts on Prabodhini Ekadashi (11th lunar day of Kartika) till Kartik Poornima (full moon). The festival is also the occasion when the martyrs are remembered at the ghats by worshipping Ganga and lighting lamps watching the aarti.
Dev Diwali – Rituals & Traditions
Every ghat and temple in the Holy City is alight with earthern ghee diyas. It is believed that the Gods descend to Varanasi Ghats on this occasion to take a dip in the River Ganga. This is what makes this festival so important and popular.
Tourist from all over India come down to Varanasi on this Dev Diwali. On the night of Dev Diwali tousands of locals and tourists from all over the world com to watch the spectacular Aarti on the Ghats of Holy Ganges. More than a million earthen lamps (Diyas), in honour of Holy Ganga, lit on the steps of all the Ghats on the riverfront of Ganges River.
Dev Diwali – with the message of faith and culture, the festival features cultural programs, classical music, boat race, a shilp mela (art and crafts fair), sculpture displays and martial arts.