Dev Deepawali 2023 - Dates, Rituals and Importance

Finally, the auspicious day is here. Every year, the holy festival of Dev Diwali is celebrated with a lot of grandeur & excitement in the auspicious city of Varanasi. Also known as Dev Deepawali, the festival is called “Diwali of the Gods”. It is celebrated as the victory of Lord Shiva over Tripurasura, the demon to save heaven. Hence, the day is also acclaimed as Tripurari Purnima or Tripurotsav. 

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Every year, Lord Shiva's devotees celebrate Dev Diwali 2023 by taking a dip in the holy waters of Ganga in Varanasi and offering Pooja. It is believed that the Devas (Gods) come down from heaven on this day on the Ghats of Varanasi to celebrate their part of the festival. Keep reading to learn about the festival in detail:

When is Dev Diwali Celebrated?

Dev Diwali Date - Every year, the festival of Dev Diwali is celebrated on the full moon night of the Hindu month of Kartika. Generally, it takes place 15 days after Diwali, and this year, the nation will be observing the “Festival of Gods” on Dev Deepavali on Sunday, November 26, 2023 at 5:08 PM TO 07:47 PM. On this day, the Varanasi Ghats are illuminated with millions of earthen lamps. Aarti is performed, and people exchange Dev Diwali wishes.

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Why Dev Diwali is Celebrated?

There are many stories behind the celebration of Dev Diwali. On the one hand, Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama with his wife Sita & brother Laksman after defeating Ravana, King of Lanka, after 14 years of exile. The celebrations of Diwali don’t stop here. To understand what is Dev Diwali and why Dev Diwali is celebrated, let us take you to the past. 

Dev Diwali takes place 15 days after Diwali. It marks an end to the Diwali celebrations and concludes the Tulsi Vivah ritual. To experience the festive joy, one must visit the Ghats of Varanasi. 

Dev Diwali is celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva, who gained victory over three demons, namely Vidyunmali, Tarakaksha, and Viryavana, together known as Tripurasura. They successfully obtained Lord Brahma's blessings by performing a rigorous penance that they would not die until they were shot to death by a single arrow. After receiving the boon from god, they started destroying the earth. As a result, Lord Shiva assumed the form of Tripurari and shot all three of them to death using a single arrow, restoring happiness, harmony & bliss. 

Apart from this story, some people observe the day as the birth anniversary of Lord Karthik, the God of War and the Son of Lord Shiva. This is also believed to be the day when Lord Vishnu entered his first incarnation. “Matsya”.

In addition to the religious significance, Dev Diwali Varanasi also has a patriotic significance. On this day, a remembrance of martyrs of Indian armed forces is performed at the ghats who died fighting for India.

How is Dev Diwali Celebrated?

Since Dev Diwali 2022 puts an end to the Diwali celebrations, it holds utmost value & importance for the holy land of Varanasi and some parts of Gujarat. If you want to witness the immense holy & compelling atmosphere, visit Varanasi. The day starts with “Kartik Snan”, where the devotees dip in the holy waters of Ganga in the early morning. People decorate their homes on this day with Rangoli and light up candles. They also recite Akhand Ramayan, followed by the distribution of Bhog (offerings). 

After that, each Ghat, including the Ganges in Varanasi, Rishikesh, Haridwar, and many other cities, are decorated with earthen lamps and Diyas. It looks mesmerising & can steal the show. It is later followed by 24 holy chants & Vedic mantras by 24 Brahmins and Ganga Arti. If you are visiting Varanasi and didn’t witness Ganga Arti in Dev Diwali Varanasi, your trip will be incomplete. A group of Brahmins hold large Artis in their hand and move in a united motion, a great treat to the eyes & ears.

Importance of Dev Diwali 2023

Varanasi is an ideal religious & auspicious destination where people from different countries visit this ancient city to experience the holy atmosphere & spend some days here. Here, they feel blissful breathing in the spiritual practices on the river Ganga’s banks or ghats. They pay a visit to the temples in the city. When the Dev Diwali festival arrives, the city of Varanasi appears as the magnificent abode of the Gods. The city simply exhibits the “City of Lights”. Being on this day in Varanasi is truly a one-time experience.

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Facts about Varanasi you should Know about 

Being a holy & spiritual city, Varanasi entertains millions of tourists annually. Here are a few facts about the city that will blow your mind:

• Varanasi is the oldest living city in the world, named after two rivers: Varuna and Asi.

• It is the only place in the world with 84 ghats, making it a city with the highest number of river banks in the world.

• The Banaras Hindu University of Benaras is one of the biggest universities in the world that offer studies in Hindu scriptures or Vedas.

• It is the birthplace of renowned artists & musicians like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Bismillah Khan.

• The place is also famous for its five-day musical dhrupad festival Tulsi Ghat and Ganga Mahotsav festival in November.

• Last but not least, it is the largest seller of Banarasi silk.

Wrapping Up

No doubt that the celebration of Dev Diwali 2023 is a larger, spiritual & splendid event in Varanasi that every devotee would want to achieve at some point in life. The city is a winner in performing Ganga Arti, where the Ghats are filled with millions of diyas & holy chants. People decorate their homes and offer Prasad. So, if you want to experience the divinity of Dev Diwali, head to the city. Wishing you all a Happy Dev Diwali.