Preparations are in full swing at the Ganga Ghats in Varanasi for Dev Deepawali, which will be celebrated on Wednesday, coinciding with Kartik Poornima.
Sushant Mishra, organiser of the Ganga Maha Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, said that the Ganga Seva Nidhi organises a grand Maha Aarti of Goddess Ganga once a year. “The Maha Aarti is performed by twenty-one Brahmins and forty-two dev kanayas. The ghat is being adorned with around twenty-one quintals of flower garlands, and fifty-one thousand lamps will be lit,” Mishra told ANI.
Earlier, Varanasi Divisional Commissioner S. Rajalingam stated that this year’s Dev Deepawali celebrations will feature a laser show and cultural performances at Raj Ghat. “People have already started looking forward to it. This year too, Dev Deepawali will be organised on a grand scale. There will be a laser show like last year, along with cultural performances at Raj Ghat featuring many artists. We have also held meetings with various organising committees,” Rajalingam said.
As Kashi gears up for the Dev Deepawali festivities, the Ganga Mahotsav will also be celebrated in the city from November 1 to 4.
During the five-day Ganga Mahotsav, performances by several renowned artists will be showcased, with inaugurations by distinguished dignitaries. The line-up includes Pandit Mata Prasad Mishra, Pandit Ravishankar Mishra, Diwakar Kashyap, Prabhakar Kashyap, Professor Pandit Sahitya Nagar, Pandit Santosh Nahar, Padma Shri Geeta Chandran, Vidushi Kavita Dwivedi, Padma Shri Malini Awasthi, Shubhankar Dey, Rahul Rohit Mishra, and Hansraj Raghuvanshi.
Meanwhile, more than 10 lakh diyas will illuminate the crescent-shaped ghats of the holy city on November 5, creating a breathtaking spectacle. Among them, one lakh eco-friendly lamps made from cow dung will add a traditional and sustainable touch to the divine celebration.
Lakhs of devotees and tourists from across India and abroad are expected to converge in Varanasi to witness this once-in-a-lifetime sight. With over 10.10 lakh lamps, the ancient city is set to shine brighter than ever before.
(ANI)