Lucknow. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Thursday that Dev Diwali is a unique confluence of Kashi’s eternal tradition, Ganga worship and folk faith. This festival is a living symbol of that ancient tradition of India, where the lamp is not just a light but a symbol of religion, duty and patriotism. In a high-level meeting in Lucknow, Yogi reviewed in detail the preparations for Dev Diwali 2025 to be organized in Varanasi on November 5.
He said that Kashi’s Dev Diwali should be organized in such a way that it becomes a world message of India’s cultural soul and spiritual consciousness. The Chief Minister directed that all preparations for the Ganga Mahotsav (01 to 04 November) organized before Dev Diwali and the main event Dev Diwali (05 November) should be timely, organized and of high quality.
The lighting of ghats, lighting of lamps, preparations for cultural programs and public participation should be such that a balance of reverence, discipline and beauty is displayed. He said that the scene of lamp donation on the banks of Ganga should be an example of devotion and discipline. For this, crowd control, security, cleanliness and traffic management at the ghats should be kept on top priority. All departments should work in mutual coordination so that there is no chaos or obstruction of any kind.
He specifically directed the Tourism, Municipal Corporation, Police, Water Police, Culture, Irrigation, PWD, Electricity and Health departments to ensure necessary preparations as per their responsibilities. He said that on the occasion of Dev Diwali, proper arrangements should be made for smart lighting, attractive floral decoration, theme-based installation and drone and CCTV monitoring at the ghats.
He also directed that special attention should be paid to the cleanliness and decoration of ghats, streets and major roads and adequate cleaning personnel should be deployed at each ghat. The Chief Minister said that the control room should be active 24×7 and the CCTV feed from the command center should be continuously monitored. Adequate toilets, drinking water arrangements, medical aid and first aid centers should be established for the convenience of the devotees.
Emergency boat and ambulance services should be available near the ghats. While ensuring the safety of the sailors, they should be provided with life jackets, registration tags and information about the prescribed route. Yogi also reviewed the preparations for the Festival of Lights to be organized at all the major ghats including Namo Ghat, Rajghat, Rajendra Prasad Ghata, Dashashwamedh Ghat and said that lamp decoration, tourist facilities and security measures should be done at the highest level there. He said that the sailor community is an integral part of the tradition of Kashi, their enthusiasm and contribution further enhances the dignity of Dev Diwali.
The administration should ensure that they get adequate support and the devotees get safe boat services. It was informed in the meeting that there is a plan to organize laser show 03 times daily including 25 minutes projection at Chet Singh Ghat. Similarly, sand art installation will be installed between Kashi Vishwanath Ghat and Chet Singh Ghat. A 10-minute green firecracker show will be organized in front of Kashi Vishwanath Dham Ghat along with green fireworks, laser show and musical programme.
The Chief Minister said that the celebration of Dev Diwali should realize the spirit of ‘Clean Kashi, Green Kashi, Divine Kashi’. Cleanliness, accessibility and lighting should be maintained from the ghats to the streets. He directed to pay special attention to traffic management, parking, barricading, shuttle services, power supply and medical services so that there is no jam or chaos in any area.
He said that active participation of local artists, schools, voluntary organizations, women’s groups and religious leaders should be ensured in the cultural programs organized on the banks of Ganga. This event became a symbol of public cooperation, social harmony and national pride. He said that this festival of Kashi is not only religious, but a celebration of faith, discipline and self-confidence. Devotees and tourists coming to Kashi should experience the Indian tradition of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ by seeing the purity, order and discipline here.
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