Dev Diwali – Diwali of the Gods

Dev Diwali

What is Dev Diwali?

It is a ‘Festival of Lights of the Gods’

When is Dev Diwali celebrated?

It is celebrated 15 days after Diwali on the Kartik Poornima day. 03-Nov-2017

Where is it celebrated?

It is celebrated with fervor in Varnasi and Uttar Pradesh.

Other events on this day.

Annabishekam is performed to Lord Shiva on the same day. It ends the celebrations of Diwali as on this day the Tulsi Vivah Ritual also comes to an end. It is believed that on the day of Dev Diwali, the Gods and Goddesses descend to Earth to take bath in Ganga.

Lamps in the ghats

Lamps in the ghats

Rituals

 

The festivities can also be witnessed in Gujarat and other northern states of India. In the Indian state of Maharashtra, Dev Diwali is observed on the first day of the month of ‘Margashirsh’. Dev Diwali is commemorated to honor the victory of Lord Shiva over the demon named ‘Tripurasur’. For this reason, this festival is also known as ‘Tripurotsav’. The festival of Dev Diwali coincides with Guru Nanak Jayanti and Jain light festival.

Rituals and Celebrations

  1. The main ritual of Dev Diwali is the lighting of diyas after seeing the moon. The steps of every ghats of River Ganga, right from southernmost Ravidas Ghat to Rajghat, are illuminated with millions of diyas lit in honour of Goddess Ganga and other presiding devas.
  2. The devotees get up early on the day of Dev Diwali and perform the ‘Kartik snan’, that is a ritual of taking a dip in the holy Ganges. They perform ‘deepdan’ (offering oil lamps) in the honour of Goddess Ganga. Following this ‘Ganga aarti’ is performed by 24 Brahmin Priests along with 24 girls, with full devotion.
  3. On this occasion of Dev Diwali, people decorate their houses with oil lamps. Colourful designs or rangoli are made on the front doors. In several houses in Varanasi, ‘Akhand Ramayana’ is organized along with offering bhogs.
  4. In the evening, on the streets of Varanasi, huge processions of beautifully decorated deities are taken out with full enthusiasm. The night sky is lit up with the lights of the firecrackers. After the event, dance performances and cultural programmes by famous personalities of Varanasi also takes place.
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