After Ayodhya, the stage is set for a great Deepotsav along the banks of the Ganges River in Varanasi on Monday. About 14 lakh diyas (earth lamps) would be lit on both sides of the Ganges river on the occasion of Dev Deepawali, officials said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in the city around 2:00 pm to participate in the ghats celebrations.
In Varanasi, the Ganges has iconic ghats on the left and sprawling sandbars on the other side. While nine lakh diyas would be lit on the ghats, another five lakh would be lit on the sandy shore, a senior tourism department official said. “This is the first time that the earth lamps will be lit on the sandy bank of the Ganges River,” he said, adding that a laser show would also be a great attraction.
“On the occasion of Dev Deepawali, every year thousands of thousands of diyas are lit on and along the ghats. This time, the earth lamps will also be lit on the sandy bank of the Ganges River. The preparations for it are in the last phase, ”said regional tourism official Keertiman Srivastava.
According to officials, several committees have been formed to ensure the event is a great success. Divisional Commissioner Deepak Agarwal and District Magistrate Kaushalraj Sharma have held several meetings to fine-tune Dev Deepawali’s preparations.
Governor Anandiben Patel and Prime Minister Yogi Adityanath, along with several others, are expected to attend the celebrations on the ghats.
Why is Dev Deepawali celebrated?
It is a popular belief that Diwali of the deities is celebrated on the day of Kartik Purnima. To mark the occasion, even deities descend from heaven in invisible forms on the ghats of the holy Ganges to ensure the salvation of the devotees involved in the Maha Aarti. The festival is a special part of the ancient Kashi culture and even finds mention in the holy Hindu script Shiv Puarana.
According to the Shiv Purana, when the demon Tripura South tortured the gods during the month of Kartik, Lord Vishnu killed him on this day after which the celebrations which became known as Dev Diwali were held.
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