Varanasi Dev Deepawali
The Dev Deepawali also known as Dev Diwali is celebrated in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on Kartik Poornima. Usually people confuse Dev Deepawali with Diwali, because both are festival of lights but Dev Deepavali is festival of lights of the Gods. The sacred city Varanasi celebrates Dev Deepawali 15 days after Diwali on Kartik Poornima, the full moon day for Hindus. This year it is celebrated on Monday, 7th of November, 2022.
Dev Deepawali is celebrated in Varanasi to mark the victory of Lord Shiva over demon Tripurasur, hence it is also known as Tripurotsav. The festival is celebrated for 5 days, starting on 11th lunar day of Kartika, Pravodhini Ekadashi and concludes on Kartik Poorinma. On Kartik Poornima, the devotees take a dip in the River Ganges known as Kartik Snan and in the evening devotees offer decorated and lit-up clay lamps or diyas to Goddess Ganga known as Deepdaan. The steps of Ganges River will be lit up with lamps to honour Goddess Ganga.
In the evening the tourists, local villagers gather around the River Ganges to see the famous Ganga Aarti which is performed on the banks of River Ganges by 21 young priests and 24 young women. Besides religious ritual, Ganga Seva Nidhi organizes a program to remember the Martyrs. The wreaths are placed at Amar Jawan Jyoti on Dashashwamedh Ghat for this program. The closing ceremony is performed by all three forces, the army, navy and air force along with Bhagirath Shourya Samman Awards distribution.
During these 5 days Ganga Mahotsav, which showcases the culture and tradition of Varanasi, is also celebrated. The main attraction is a country boat race and daily shilpa mela. Along with these program they also organize cultural programs and martial arts.