Dev Deepawali Varanasi – The Glowing Ghats of Kashi!
Deepawali or Diwali is one of the most popular festivals in India. It’s a festival we have been celebrating with full zest and zeal ever since we were kids. This year gave us the opportunity to celebrate two Diwalis in one year. One which was celebrated throughout the country and the other which was celebrated only at Varanasi. Two weeks after Deepawali was a special festival celebrated on the day of Kartik Poornima known as Dev Deepawali.
Varanasi is Saumya’s birthplace and a city which has always attracted me for its history and culture. As a kid she had witnessed the Ganga Aarti since her childhood. However, Dev Deepawali couldn’t be on her cards till date. We wanted to attend the Dev Deepawali Festival together this time and when asked if we could manage our leaves, we were more than sure that we can. We reached Varanasi a day before the Dev Deepawali and found the city to be a bit overcrowded.
An old gentleman at a local shop gave us some more information about how this city glows up especially during the Dev Deepawali festival and we can find people from all around the globe pouring in especially for this festival of lights. Varanasi has 87 Ghats in total. Most of these ghats are used as bathing and religious ceremony ghats while few are used exclusively for cremation purposes.
Enlightment and the death which comes before it, is the primary business of Varanasi!
We reached Raj Ghat from where our journey to experience the magical Dev Deepawali was to start. We took a boat and started to move towards Assi Ghat. As it was the onset of the evening we could see people were busy decorating their respective ghats with candles and diyas. There were various patterns drawn on the ghats which were beautiful. As the sun went the lamps of soil attained full glory.
It was a true spectacle to watch the different designs and patterns, all lit up at the ghats. The ghats were also decorated with lights, colors and the hard work put in by the devotees and members of the Ganga Seva Sameti to bring them to life was remarkable. Here we bring you the journey from the Raj Ghat to the Assi Ghat which was for around one hour and it seemed too less.
The beauty of the evening was also enhanced by the Super Moon that appeared that day. The next supermoon may not appear till 2034 and we were quite lucky to witness it on the day of Dev Deepawali. The reflection of the moon in the river Ganga was magical, splendid and a feeling that cannot be put to words.
The Supermoon and it’s reflection!
We got down at Dashashwamedh Ghat and took a walk to the neighboring ghats before we headed back home. The humongous crowd at the Ghats was a true example of the faith that people of this county and abroad has in this holy festival and the holy city, Kashi! Hats off to the administration that was very well equipped and prepared for this footfall.
The humongous crowd at the Ghats was a true example of the faith that people of this county and abroad has in this holy festival and the holy city, Kashi! Hats off to the administration that was very well equipped and prepared for this footfall. The arrangements ensured that there were no chaos or miss happenings and the crowd was managed exceptionally well. Although it was overcrowded and there was hardly any place to lay a foot, the atmosphere of that place for Dev Deepawali helps you forget these trifle issues and enjoy it to the fullest.
Have you been to Varanasi? Do share your experiences with us!
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5 comments
Firstly ….it’s an awsome description with words to give a clear view n feel of the serenity…
Good work dear….keep up the good work
Varanasi assumes an ethereal form as soon as the sun sets in the west. The bright lights and the sonorous sounds of Ganga Aarti transform it into a divine place. The experience during Dev Diwali must have been extra special indeed.
So beautiful. And full of culture…
Thank you 🙂