Everyone has heard about Diwali, but have you ever wondered what Dev Diwali is all about? Just like the name, Dev Diwali or Dev Deepawali means Diwali of Gods and this festival is celebrated in the holy city of Varanasi.In this blog you will understand everything about Dev Diwali, and you will be probably thinking about going to Varanasi to witness the breathtaking beauty of the city during this festival.
What is dev diwali ?
Dev Diwali is a hindu festival celebrated usually between November and December. According to Hindu mythology, the festival is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Lord Shiva over three demons namely Vidyunmali, Tarakaksha and Viryavana together called Tripurasura.
Dev Diwali symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Another reason that makes this festival even more glorious is this day is believed to be the birth anniversary of Lord Karthikeya,son of Lord Shiva and it is also believed that this is the day when Lord Vishnu entered his first incarnation “Matsya”.
The exact day which the dev diwali is celebrated is on the full moon day in the hindu month of Karthik, which usually falls after the mid-November and that’s why this festival is also called Karthika Poornima. In addition to all this religious importance, Dev Diwali has a patriotic significance. On this day, a remembrance of all martyrs of India is also performed at the ghats.
Festival of Lights in the Ganges
Do you wonder how Dev Diwali is Celebrated? Similar to Diwali, this festival is also celebrated with lights. Dev Diwali is celebrated by lighting millions of earthen lamps illuminating the ghats of River Ganges.
The Ganges will be reflected with lights of diyas and full moon. Boats will sail through the water leaving a trail of floating lights behind. Millions of lights and a full moon will radiate in Varanasi. From Ravidas ghat at the southend to Rajghat, the steps of all the ghats in the front of Ganges River are illuminated with millions of earthen lamps.
Significance of the Ganges in Dev Diwali
It is believed that the gods descend to the Earth to bathe in Ganges and celebrate the victory of good over evil. That’s why the festival is called Dev Diwali, which means ‘Diwali of Gods’. On this day, Devotees take a morning dip in Ganga called Ganga Snan and perform rituals and different prayers. In the evening, they light lamps and offer prayers to their ishta devata.
Not just in the ghats of Ganges, but devotees in their homes also light oil lamps and do poojas to welcome the gods. Priests will be performing big ganga arati, the millions of lamps along with ganga aarti is a true divine experience. Other than these, the significance of Ganges is that Dev Diwali is celebrated on the last day of Ganga Mahotsav.
Ganga Mahotsav begins on Prabodhini Ekadashi and goes for five days. It is believed that life and culture of Varanasi is blessed by the Holy River Ganga. Ganga Maahotsav is celebrated as a token of thankfulness of the people towards the Ganga River. This festival has dance, music and drama and it is the best time to experience the culture of the city. The Ganga Mahotsav is the best time to experience the delicacies of Banaras.Banarasi chaats, Baati Chokha, Mughlai cuisine and a lot more in a single place is all you need.
Difference between Diwali and Dev Diwali
The primary difference between these two festivals is Diwali, celebrated in the amavasya or no moon day and Dev Diwali is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of hindu month karthika. Deepavali is a five day festival in which the third day with the darkest night of the hindu lunisolar calendar is considered as Diwali. After fifteen days of Diwali, the Dev Diwali is celebrated.
According to Hindu mythology, there are multiple stories behind Diwali. The three major stories are:
- Diwali is the day when Lord Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana returned to Ayodhya after 14 years in exile.
- Lord Krishna defeats Narakasura on this day.
- Hindu Goddess Lakshmi chose Lord Vishnu as her husband on the night of Diwali.
Diwali is celebrated as the festival of lights and sweets.Dev Diwali is celebrated to commemorate the day on which Lord Shiva defeated Tripurasura.
These are the major differences. However, when we look at the similarities, both the festivals are celebrated to commemorate victory of good over evil and are celebrated with lights and offering poojas for gods.
Experience Varanasi during Dev Diwali 2024
Imagine Visiting Varanasi during Dev Diwali.It will be an ethereal experience and you can witness the city coming alive with radiating lights and devotion. Priests performing ganga arati in incredible synchronicity will be a divine experience.
There will be fireworks and laser shows to make the night more colorful. Dev Diwali 2024 will be celebrated on November 15. The beauty of the full moon illuminating the picturesque city and the lights filled with devotion will be a lifetime experience. You can avail boat services and there are plenty of options available at this time.Gliding through the River Ganges on a boat surrounded with all this beauty will make you feel like Varanasi came straight out of a fairytale.
How to visit Varanasi for Dev Diwali 2024
If you are planning to visit Varanasi during Dev Diwali, don’t worry, it’s not that hassle. Reaching Varanasi is like a breeze because there are a lot of transportation options available.
- The nearest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS), connecting Varanasi to major cities across India.
- For train travelers, Varanasi Junction is a well- connected railway station with regular trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and all other parts of the country.
- If you prefer road travel, Varanasi is accessible by bus or car from nearby cities and towns.
Also Read: Happy Diwali Wishes in English 2024
Conclusion
Like every festival, Dev Diwali also brings people together, sharing joy and happiness. Light from each earthen lamp removes darkness which symbolizes the good over the evil. Dev Diwali, celebrated in the Varanasi region, is popular in North India. However, the popularity of this festival has spreaded across India in the last few years, increasing the number of people visiting Varanasi during Dev Diwali.
Experience the glowing Varanasi during Dev Diwali 2024 and be part of immense joy created with millions of lights and passionate devotion.
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Also Read : Diwali- The Festival of Lights and Joy
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