Dev Deepawali or Diwali is celebrated mainly in Varanasi every year. It falls in November after fifteen days of Deepawali or Diwali every year. Deepawali and Dev Deepawali or Diwali Deepawali and Dev Deepawali is co-related to each other both are the festival of lights, but first is celebrated by each Hindus in their homes with relatives and family members but the second is celebrated in groups with many societies and government at Varanasi‘s ghats.
Legendry history of Deepawali
Deepawali is celebrated by hindus in India every year ,deepawali is a festival of lights, there is a legend behind this light festival that lord Rama returned back from his exile killing the Rawana the king of demons (in treta yug ),therefore the people decorated the whole kingdom with the lights the earthen lamps with oil and the whole kingdom looks like bride ,and from that day the whole India celebrate this day as a light festival every year.
Myths of Dev Deepawali
It is said that the Deepawali or Diwali is celebrated by people and Dev Deepawali is celebrated by gods. As its name refers that dev means gods (in the Hindu religion ) and Deepawali means (diyas) the earthen lamps lits with oil and cotton. There is many myths and legends behind this festival . It is said that gods descend to the earth and welcome lord Vishnu (Krishna) who wakes up from his long six months asleep or rest in ksheersagar and comes to his dham (home) baking. And another legend or myth is that lord Shiva killed the demon Tripura so gods descend to Varanasi and decorate and lit the diyas (the earthen lamps ), so it is also called the deadpan means people also offer and lit the earthen lamps at the ghats of Varanasi.It is maintained that people should lit 30 diyas at least (earthen lamps)on this pure day so all the pilgrims lit the diyas at the ghats in Varanasi. Apart from the light decorations and colorful rangolis, various cultural events like classical music concerts are also held on the ghats. It is a big day for the city.
Main Rituals of this day
The main rituals performed by devotees consist of kartik snan(taking a holy bath in the Ganges during Kartika) and deepdaan (offering of oil-lighted lamps) to the Ganga in the evening. The Ganga aarti is also performed in the evening.
Programs of the day
The 5 day festivals starts on Prabodhini Ekadashi (11th lunar day of Kartika) and concludes on Kartik Poornima. Besides a religious role, the festival is also the occasion when the martyrs are remembered at the ghats by worshipping Ganga and lighting lamps . The traditional last post is also performed by all the three armed forces (Army, Navy and Air force), followed by a closing ceremony, On the night of the festival, thousands of devotees from the holy city of Varanasi, surrounding villages, and across the country gather in the evening on the ghats of the Ganges to watch the aarti. The local government makes several intensive security arrangements to ensure order during the festival. Apart from the aarti at the Dashameshwar Ghat, all buildings and houses are lit with earthen lamps. Nearly 100,000 pilgrims visit the riverfront to watch the river aglitter with lamps. The aarti is performed by 21 young Brahmin priests and 24 young women. The rituals involve chanting hymns, rhythmic drum beating, conch shell blowing, and brazier burning. Boat rides (in boats of all sizes) along the riverfront in the evening are popular among tourists, when all the ghats are lit with lamps and aarti is being performed.
Sono stata a Varanasi 3 giorni e Santhos è riuscito a farmi sentire parte di questa magica città.
È una guida premurosa e parla molto bene l’italiano.
Già dalla prima sera si è preso cura di noi .
Ci ha portate a visitare la Varanasi più autentica e si è sempre preoccupato che noi stessimo bene.
Ci ha organizzato il giro in barca sul Gange che è stato speciale e indimenticabile.