Already known as the ‘City of Lights’, Varanasi was further decked up with decorative lights, earthen lamps and fragrant flowers on the occasion of Dev Deepawali. Known for its ghats, the city is located on the west bank of river Ganga, and it celebrates Dev Deepawali at this time of the year to commemorate the Devas’ celebration of Diwali after Lord Shiva’s win over demon Tripurasura. The festival is also linked with Prabhodini Ekadashi and marks the end of Chaturmas, a four-month period when Lord Vishnu is believed to go into deep sleep.
Dev Deepawali is celebrated every year on the 15th lunar day of the Kartik month of the Hindu calendar, i.e., Kartik Purnima. However, it was celebrated a day earlier this time in Varanasi because of the Lunar Eclipse or Chandra Grahan.
Indian Masterminds spoke to Chief Development Officer (CDO) of Varanasi, IAS officer Himanshu Nagpal, to know how the administration coped with the challenges that come with an event of this scale.
THE CHALLENGES
Over 5 lakh tourists were part of the celebration, both from the country and outside, and a total of 10 lakh diyas were lit on both the sides of the ghats. The Varanasi administration worked day and night to make sure that everything goes well during the three-day Ganga Mahotsav at the ghats, which was also being celebrated at the same time.
Mr. Nagpal informed that their biggest challenge was to ensure that earthen lamps or diyas are organised and lit at the same time all over the ghats, ponds and lakes. So, they roped in NGOs, local people, schools and colleges to help out. The other challenges were the cleaning of all the ghats and their lighting, and managing traffic and crowd, as entire Kashi was filled to the maximum with tourists from all over the country and abroad to witness the event.
“There is so much traffic in the river with thousands of boats floating around that there is the danger of collision as well. So, the NDRF team, health team, and boat ambulances were present to ensure that no calamities take place,” Mr. Nagpal said.
SPECTACULAR CELEBRATION
On the evening of Dev Deepawali, as soon as the Hazara lamp was lit at the Panchganga Ghat, the seven and a half kilometres long banks of the Ganga were lit up one by one, mesmerising the tourists. From the city to the village, and the circumambulation of Panchkroshi, everything was lit up with lamps. Lamps were also lit in pools, lakes, ponds and temples. On the ghats, lamps were arranged in such a way to create alpanas in the form of Swastika, Om Namah Shivay, and Har Har Mahadev, much to the delight of the crowds.
To further engage the people, there was a laser show and electric fireworks as well. Tributes were also paid to the soldiers at a makeshift replica of the India Gate, while the resplendent sight of the famous Maha Aarti of Ganga at Dashashwamedh Ghat left everyone in awe, as usual.
3D PROJECTION SHOW
For the first time, a 3D projection show was shown on the walls of Chet Singh Ghat of Kashi Vishwanath Dham. This was no doubt the centre of attraction as people thronged to watch it. The show presented the story of Sursari’s Avataran (Ganga Avtaran) just like a film is played on the screen of a cinema hall. Along with this, tourists were also introduced to the history, and the present and future concepts of the temple.
As soon as the electric lights were switched on and the earthen lamps lit at the Panchganga, the illuminated ghats resonated with the chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Har Har Gange’. For everyone present there, it was a sight to behold, and a sight that will linger on in their minds for a long time to come!
