Dev Diwali or “Festival of lights of the Gods’ is an auspicious festival of the Hindu religion that occurs every year on the day of Kartik Purnima or full moon day on the month of Kartik, a fortnight after the occurrence of actual Diwali. The festival occurs on the banks of river Ganges in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
The significance of the day
Dev Diwalili is celebrated every year to commemorate the victory of Lord Shiva over the notorious demon Tripurasur. Hence the occasion is also referred to as Tripuratsav. It is also believed that all the god and goddesses of the Hindu religion come down from heaven to take a dip at the holy river Ganges. The ghats are illuminated with millions of diyas which was first started at the Panchganga Ghat in the year 1985. Apart from the religious point of view, Dev Deepabali is also believed to be celebrated to mark the sacrifice of the brave Indian soldiers and martyrs who have lost their lives while protecting their country.
Where is it celebrated?
Unlike the Kumbh Mela, Dev Diwalili is celebrated in one particular city every year, at the holy city Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
Rituals of Dev Diwali
- On this auspicious day, hundreds and thousands of devotees take a sacred dip on the Holy river Ganges which they believe to be highly auspicious and spiritual.
- Religious priests start the occasion by chanting prayers and mantras on the banks of river Ganges.
- In the evening, thousands of devotees first watch the moon and then light numerous earthen lamps to show their respect to the Ganges and please all the gods and goddesses of the Hindu religion
- 24 Brahmin priests along with 24 girls do the Ganga Aarti which is a spectacular sight to experience
- The staircase of the numerous Ghats in Varanasi, from Ravidas Ghat to Rajghat, are lit with millions of earthen lamps which results in a magnificent display and attract millions of people from different parts of the world to witness this spectacular sight.
- Along with the steps on the Ghats, the banks of the river Ganges and the numerous temples of Varanasi are also decorated with uncountable earthen lamps or diyas.
- People in Varanasi also decorate their houses with colourful diyas just like they do in normal diwali, make colourful rangoli and some of them even chant the lines from “Akhand Ramayana”
- After the lighting of diyas, a huge procession of Hindu gods and goddesses can be witnessed where most the Hindu idols are decorated and taken out of the temples.
- The night sky on this day sparkles with the light of firecrackers and numerous earthen diyas.
- Many famous personalities of Varanasi arrange cultural programmes which are viewed by an infinite number of devotees.
- The easiest and the most convenient way to witness the illumination of the Ghats and banks of Ganges is to avail a boat ride at the heart of the river.
Dev Diwali Date, 2021
Every year Dev Deepabali falls on a fixed day which is on Kartik Purnima. ON 2019, Dev Deepabali will be celebrated on 18th November Thursday.
Timings: The Purnima tithi begins on 18th November at 12:53 PM. The tithi ends on 23rd November 2018 at 11:09 AM. Thus the festival will be celebrated between 22nd November 12:53 PM and 23rd November 11:09 AM.
Thus, to witness this magnificent festival is a matter of luck. Those who are able to witness the celebrations at the Ghats of Ganges will try to revisit the place sometime later.
