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The festival of Karthik Poornima is known as Dev Deepavali or Dev Diwali in Varanasi. According to the Hindu calendar, this day falls in the month of Kartika, during the full moon, which takes place after a fortnight or 15 days of Diwali.
Dev Diwali 2023 in Varanasi will be celebrated on 26th November, where the steps of the Ganges ghat will be lit with millions of diyas or earthen lamps. This day will also be celebrated as Purnima Snan. Let’s explore more about Dev Diwali in Varanasi.
Table of Contents
Also Read: Why Do We Celebrate Dussehra?
What is Dev Diwali?
Dev Diwali, also known as the ‘Diwali of the Gods’ is celebrated as the victory of Lord Shiva over the Asura brother, named Tripurasura. According to the legends, Lord Shiva fought against the trio to save heaven from the demons. This festival is celebrated 15 days after Diwali or Deepawali in several places in North India.
This is a 5-day festival, where the rituals start from Prabodhini Ekadashi and conclude on Karthik Poornima, which is observed as Dev Diwali. In recent years, this festival has become a major place of tourist attraction, giving a vivid and joyful experience with millions of diyas lightening the Ganges.
Dev Diwali 2023 Date
Dev Diwali is celebrated 15 days after Diwali. This year, Dev Deepawali will be celebrated on 26th November. Varanasi is the hotspot for all the traditional and cultural activities which are organised by the government on this day. The table below highlights the dates of some of the previous Dev Deepawalis.
| Date | Year |
| 7th November | 2022 |
| 18th and 19th November | 2021 |
| 29th November | 2020 |
| 12th November | 2019 |
| 22nd November | 2018 |
Significance
Just like Deepawali, Dev Deepawali also marks the celebrations of the victory of good over evil, and light over dark. Legends say that after the victory of Lord Shiva over Tripurasura, all the Hindu gods took a holy bath in the waters of the Ganges.
- A grand Ganga Aarti ceremony takes place on the banks of the River Ganges.
- All the devotees gather holding lamps offering players and performing rituals to Lord Shiva and Goddess Ganga.
- This day serves as a reminder of the fact that righteousness and truth always prevail over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
- This day highlights the rich heritage and religious beliefs of the Hindu culture, where devotees show their devotion and reverence towards the gods and goddesses.
Also Read: Happy Dussehra 2023
Dev Diwali Celebrations
One of the major Dev Diwali celebrations is the Gaga Mahotsav, which can become a tourist-centric location for national and international travellers. This -5-day long festival takes place at Amar Jawan Jyoti at Dashawamedh Ghat. the adjoining areas such as the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Rajendra Prasad Ghat, and the Air Force Selection Board are all filled with devotees offering their prayers to Lord Shiva and the Goddess Ganga.
Apart from religious and cultural significance, this festival also includes various other activities, such as classical music, a daily fair (shilp mela) for arts and crafts, a country boat race, a martial arts competition and a sculpture display. All the and several other activities are state-sponsored, where the winners are awarded with exciting prizes.
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FAQs
Dev Diwali 2023 will be celebrated on 26th November 2023 all over India.
Here are some of the popular Dev Deepawali celebrations; diya lightning, classical music, a daily fair (shilp mela) for arts and crafts, a country boat race, a martial arts competition and a sculpture display.
The centre stage of Dev Deepawali takes place in the holy city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, where millions of diyas are lighted by devotees on the Ghat or bank of Ganges.
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