Varanasi. Only the gods and sages know how the festival of Dev Diwali would have been in the divine world of gods, but when 21 lakh lamps were lit simultaneously on Kartik Purnima in the evening of Monday at the ghats of Devadhidev Mahadev’s Kashi, here also The scene seemed like heaven. Seeing the amazing, supernatural, unique spectacle in the last evening of the month of Kartik, every pore of the people who witnessed this moment thrilled with excitement. It is believed that Kashi is situated on the trident of Lord Shankar. Similarly, in the courtyard of Shiva’s Kashi, the gods celebrated Dev Diwali on Monday. Its witnesses were the common citizens of the country and abroad as well as ambassadors of 70 countries, 150 delegates and their families.
Kashi illuminated with 21 lakh lamps
About 21 lakh lamps were lit in Kashi city on Dev Diwali. More than 12 lakh lamps were lit on the crescent-shaped ghats of Kashi alone. Of these, one lakh lamps were made from cow dung. Lamps were lit on the ghats on the west coast and on the sands on the east coast. Places like ponds, lakes of Kashi, Markandeya Mahadev situated on the banks of Ganga-Gomti, Shastri Ghat of Varuna river etc. were illuminated with millions of lamps. On Dev Diwali, Kashi was illuminated with 12 lakh (one lakh cow dung lamps) lamps from the government, a total of more than 21 lakh lamps from voluntary organizations and public participation.
It was the first time when ambassadors and delegates from 70 countries became witnesses.
This is the first time when such a large number of diplomats from many countries, under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, felt proud to see this supernatural, wonderful and unforgettable moment in front of their eyes. Yogi government has given the status of provincial fair to Dev Diwali from this year. Due to this, the aura of Dev Diwali is spreading all over the world. Not only was it inaugurated by lighting the first lamp on Dev Diwali with the lotus flowers of Gorakshpeethadhishwar and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, but the deities were also welcomed.
A grand Dev Diwali was celebrated in the religious, spiritual and cultural city of Kashi in the twilight of Monday. With the sunset, lakhs of lamps spread a wonderful and supernatural glow on the banks of Uttaravahini Jahnvi. It seems as if the stars of the galaxy have descended on the 85 arched ghats of Kashi. The whole of Kashi seemed bathed in the light of lamps. The gods were welcomed on the land of Kashi with the sound of conch shells, grand Maha Aarti and sound of bells and gongs at all the ghats. An amazing view of the laser show and crackers show across the Ganga was seen at Chet Singh Ghat in Kashi. Yogi government is leaving no stone unturned to make Dev Diwali divine and grand. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the guests and along with them boarded the cruise to witness the wonderful spectacle of Dev Diwali.
Message of nationalism with religion and spirituality
On Dev Diwali, the series of ghats of Kashi were seen spreading different colors. At some places a laser show was organised, while the local and foreign tourists enjoyed the green aerial fire crackers show on the sand across the Ganga. Along with Ram devotion and nationalism, a glimpse of spirituality and sociality was also seen in the Maha Aarti of Dashashwamedh Ghat. The Maha Aarti of Dashashwamedh Ghat was dedicated to Ramlala. Devotees got a glimpse of Ramlala and Ram temple here. Tribute was paid to the brave soldiers of the country by making a replica of Amar Jawan Jyoti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. The immortal brave warriors of India were also honored with ‘Bhagirath Shaurya Samman’. 21 Archakas and 51 Dev girls worshiped Mother Ganga and performed Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat in the form of Ridhi Siddhi, this also kept giving the message of women power.
View of modern Kashi with tradition
The supernatural atmosphere was created by the simultaneous lighting of 12 lakh (21 lakh with public participation) lamps on the ghats of Kashi and also by listening to the pictorial information about mythological Kashi and Lord Shiva through the sound and light show with projection show at Chet Singh Ghat. The audience was mesmerized. On Dev Diwali, all the temples of Kashi, facade lights on the ghats and electric poles on the roads were also decorated with attractive tricolor spiral fringes. People also enjoyed the green fireworks on the sand across the Ganges in front of Kashi Vishwanath Dham. Apart from this, live telecast of Maha Aarti was done on the ghats at six major places of the city. Just as the Kashi Vishwanath temple complex was decorated at the time of inauguration, similarly it was decorated with 11 quintals of flowers on Dev Diwali. The importance of Kashi based on Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham and information related to the construction of the corridor was shown through laser show at Ganga Dwar.
There was an impenetrable security system in water, land and sky, traffic rules were made on waterways.
For the safety of tourists and devotees on Dev Diwali, the ghats were divided into 8 zones, 11 sectors and 32 sub sectors. Security arrangements were also made in many cycles. A blueprint for complete preparation regarding security, traffic system, parking, emergency management, QRT, entry and exit on ghats, rivers and roads was already prepared. Pink booths, anti Romeo squad etc. were deployed for the safety of women. Lanes were demarcated from both directions for boats to travel in the Ganga. Safety equipment was installed on the boats and sailors were instructed to avoid over-riding and intoxication. NDRF and water police personnel were deployed with boats, modern equipment and water ambulance with a team of doctors. In the Dev Diwali program, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, State Government Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh, Minister Anil Rajbhar, Dayashankar Mishra ‘Dayalu’, Ravindra Jaiswal etc. also came to pay homage in this wonderful moment.