Dev Deepawali 2024: Every Corner of Kashi Shines with the Lights of Devotion

Varanasi (UP): On the sacred occasion of Kartik Purnima, Dev Deepawali has transformed Kashi into a mesmerizing spectacle, captivating devotees and tourists alike. Over 1.7 million lamps will illuminate the 84 ghats, adorning the holy river Ganga. Pilgrims from across India and the world have arrived to witness and be part of this divine and celebratory atmosphere.

The tradition of Dev Deepawali began at the Panchganga Ghat, evolving from a simple festival of lights to an extraordinary celebration. In 1985, Mahant Narayan Guru of the Mangala Gauri Temple envisioned a grand Dev Deepawali, aiming to beautify the ghats and celebrate the divine. Inspired after a flood, he initiated the idea of decorating the ghats with lamps, calling on the public for contributions of oil and ghee. Initially, lamps were lit on Panchganga Ghat and a few nearby ghats, gradually expanding to include more of the prominent ghats.

By 1990, the festival had spread to 30 ghats. Subsequently, under Narayan Guru’s guidance, the Central Dev Deepawali Mahasamiti was formed to organize the lighting across all ghats. Within a decade, this festival evolved into its current grandeur, with every ghat in Kashi glowing with lights of faith and devotion, making the city a reflection of paradise on earth.

This remarkable blend of spirituality and beauty has elevated Dev Deepawali to a national celebration that fills Kashi with a sense of divine joy each year.

As Kartik Purnima began on Friday morning, a vast number of devotees gathered at both urban and rural ghats for holy bathing rituals. They took dips in the Ganga with reverence, offering charity and blessings.

With the crowds arriving for the Ganga Snan (holy bath), local authorities arranged for cleanliness and safety. Barricades were set up in the river for safety, and separate areas for women to change were established. Pilgrims gathered at prominent ghats, including Pakka Ghat, Bariya Ghat, Baba Ghat, Sankatha Ghat, Kachhari Ghat, Nar Ghat, and Fantaha Ghat, to perform rituals.

According to ancient mythology, on Kartik Purnima, Lord Shiva defeated the demon Tripurasura, earning the name “Tripurari.” It is believed that after a holy dip in the Ganga on this day and acts of charity, all sorrows are dispelled.