Dev Diwali Festival

Dev Diwali or Dev Deepawali is a Hindu festival celebrated in the month of ‘kartik’, it is a festival of great pomp in Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh.

The celebration of Dev Diwali usually coincides between November and December.Gregorian calendar.

In 2018, Diwali was celebrated on November 7th and Dev Diwali on November 23rd. This festival commemorates the victory of Lord Shiva over the demon called ‘Tripurasur’; therefore, this festival is also known as ‘Tripuratsav’.

The Dev Diwali Festival coincides with the Guru Nanak Jayanti and the Jain festival of light.

Deepawali is a very elaborate festival and is devoutly observed every year in the holy city of Varanasi.

The ceremony begins with prayers (Ganesh Vandana) and flower offerings to Lord Ganapati. Then, while chanting religious mantras, diya lamps, called deepdaan, are offered by twenty-one Brahmins and forty-one young women. During Dev Diwali, all the ghats along the Ganges River and the temples of Varanasi are illuminated with millions of diyas, or candles, and are filled with pilgrims. People living nearby decorate their homes with lamps, creating colorful designs or “rangoli” on their front doors.

Varanasi becomes a major tourist attraction during Diwali. A multitude of devotees from different parts of the country and abroad come to witness this festival of light.

So many people come to enjoy this huge festival that if you want to experience it, you should book your tour well in advance, especially if you want to rent a private boat to enjoy it cruising along the river. Prices are very high these days, and it’s impossible to book a boat at the last minute.

It is believed that on the day of Dev Diwali, the gods and goddesses who come to Earth bathe in the sacred Ganga River.This amazing tradition of diyas on Diwali began at the Ganga Ghats in 1985. Thousands of devotees bathe in the river on this day, as it is believed that this ritual cleanses people of their sins. The most devout rise early on Diwali and perform the “Kartik snan,” or ritual bath in the sacred Ganges, then offer “deepdan” (oil lamps) in honor of the goddess Ganga, and after this, the “Ganga aarti,” the nighttime ceremony performed on this day by a group of girls and Brahmin priests.

At night, enormous processions of beautifully decorated deities parade through the streets of Varanasi. The sky lights up with fireworks, and afterward, dance performances and cultural programs led by famous Varanasi personalities can be enjoyed.

Besides its religious significance, Dev Diwali also commemorates the martyrs who lost their lives fighting for India. Wreaths are offered in remembrance of the brave soldiers. Bhajans and patriotic songs are sung, and the Bhartya Shourya Samman awards are presented.