Observed in Varanasi, a city in northern India, the “Dev Deepawali” or “Diwali of the Gods”, is celebrated 15 days after the Diwali festival to light millions of clay lamps on the banks of the holy river Ganga.
Save the date: On Kartik Purnima, which is the 15th of November 2024. Be prepared to embrace Dev Deepawali along the ghats of Ganga in the city of Varanasi. With the onset of the full moon, the celebration itself begins and takes its divine high point in the city.
This is the festival of the supremacy of Lord Shiva when he defeated the demon called Tripurasura. It celebrates the gods coming down to earth as Varanasi looks flamboyant in devotion and lights
Devotees gather to bathe in the river Ganges which is supposed to cleanse a person of all his sins by performing “Kartik Snan”Then they light up the bank with clay lamps and the ghat appears beautiful and filled with hope and light.
The peak of Dev Deepawali is Ganga Aarti, during which priests wearing traditional garments bring brass lamps and perform puja for the river. This greatly boosts the occurrence of drum beats, ringing bells and sacred chants that effectively generate a magical envelope of the whole riverside that guarantees the attraction of a large number of devotees and observers.
The peak of Dev Deepawali is Ganga Aarti, during which priests wearing traditional garments bring brass lamps and perform puja for the river. This greatly boosts the occurrence of drum beats, ringing bells and sacred chants that effectively generate a magical envelope of the whole riverside that guarantees the attraction of a large number of devotees and observers.
Thumri, Dhrupad, and devotional songs with the concert of Classical music, add to the spiritual aura of Dev Deepawali while dance drama narrates stories of Gods and divine victories.
Dev Deepawali recreates heaven in Varanasi looking like the new world with the surroundings of Diya, the lighting of fireworks and cultural shows, all to make the moment memorable.