Dev Diwali is one of the famous festivals of Hindu which is celebrated in Benares on the occasion of Kartik Poornima. It is started by the holy Vedic mantras (chanted by priests to please and welcome the God), sparkling fire crackers and lighting a bunch of Diyas at the ghats.
At this occasion, each and every ghats of Gange river are packed with the huge crowd of pilgrims and diyas. They flow thousands of Diyas (also known as earthen lamps) in the holy water of Gange for their Gods according to the ritual beliefs and culture.
Dev Diwali 2016 would be celebrated by the people on Monday, at 14th of November.
Dev Diwali 2015
Dev Diwali 2015 was celebrated by the people on Wednesday, at 25th of November 2015.
Dev Diwali 2014
Dev Diwali 2014 was celebrated by the people on Wednesday, at 6th November 2014.
History and Legend of Dev Deepavali
Dev Deepavali is celebrated every year in the Varanasi on the 15th day of Diwali in respect of Ganga by the pilgrims. It is held in the month of Kartik at Kartik Purnima when the moon become in its full view. It is celebrated and observed by the people with the great trumpet blast and overwhelms. In Hindu religion, Dev Deepavali is celebrated in the belief that Gods descend on the Earth at this grand occasion. There is another myth of celebrating Dev Deepavali that, at this day, demon Tripurasur was killed by the Gods, so it is named as Dev Deepavali and celebrated as a victory day of the Gods at the Kartik Purnima.
How it starts and where it is held on:
This programme starts with the prayer of Lord Ganesha by presenting Ganpati Vandana, followed by laying garland of flower. Dev Deepavali ceremony is presented by 21 Brahmins and 41 girls sounding the vedic mantras. After Deep-Daan, a Maha Aarati is held on at Dasaswamedh Ghat which has become the main attraction of the day. After all the cultural programs, a dance performance (by great personalities of Varanasi) is held under the event Nritya Ganga.
Almost all the ghats such as Assi Ghat, Suparshvanath Ghat, Boondiper Kota Ghat, Panchganga Ghat, Kedar Ghat, Ahilya Bai Ghat, Man Mandir Ghat, etc become full of crowd and delight. A 12-ft statue of the Goddess Ganga becomes the center of attraction at this day. People travel in the boat from here to there to have immense pleasure of this occasion. On this great occasion, devotees and pilgrims take a holy dip early in the morning in the sacred water of Gange known as the Kartik Snan. Many houses at Varanasi organize Akhand Ramayan with the allocation of bhogs.
Crowd and Decoration of Ghats
Ganga Mahotsav is also held at Dasaswamedh Ghat (the famous Gange ghat in Varanasi) around this occasion where a huge number of Hindu devotees start to come from the day of Prabodhini Ekadasi (eleventh day of fortnight). The entire ghats of the Ganga from Varuna to Assi get decorated with the tiny earthen lamps (known as Diya) and floral rangolis at the evening of Kartik Purnima. People starts gathering by the riverside before sunset to see the beauty of decoration. It is considered that pilgrims flow Diyas in water of Gange to welcome the Gods who descend on the earth. This whole event makes a wonderful scene to watch. Gange arti is also held on each Gange ghat with a huge lamps and done by priests of ghats.
Role of the Ganga Seva Nidhi
At this occasion, the Ganga Seva Nidhi manages a program in order to pay respect to the martyrs in which they put down flower garlands at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. Dev Deepawali draws attention of millions of devotees and pilgrims every year. Because of the huge gathering at the ghats, enough security arrangement is made by the UP government for safety purpose.