1. You see DAMRU at Dev Deepavali Kashi 2023. 15 days after Deepavali, Deva Deepavali is celebrated to signify the day when celestial beings (devas) take a dip in the river’s sacred water in Kashi. It falls on Kartik Purnima i.e. also Guru Nanak Jayanti & Festival of Lights in Thailand. In the south it is Karthigai Deepam. On this day Kartikeya, son of Siva/Parvati was born.
2. Early morning Ganga Aarti at Assi Ghat. A friend who visited in early December 23 tweeted a video of young girls chanting the Vedas at Assi Ghat. https://x.com/ArunKrishnan_/status/1733643354167206006?t=hSc6Bjuj6HFgU-CpgMHiOQ&s=08
3. Crowds gathered at Dashawamedh Ghat waiting for the Ganga Maha Aarti to start. Echoes of conch shells left me spell-bound. Left of pic is a River Police Booth. Above that is a chariot with horses. A holy bath at Pushkar or Varanasi is considered most auspicious on Dev Deepavali/Kartik Purnima.
4. Devotees/locals lighting earthern lamps or diyas on the ghats of Varanasi. 21 lakh diyas were lit in 2023. About 1 lakh diyas were made from cow dung. This generates income for pottery producers.
5. Here diyas placed in the shape of AUM. Diyas were lit simultaneously. Dev Deepavali is celebrated on Kartik Purnima i.e. the last full moon night of the Hindu holy month of Kartik. Captions by Editor.
6. Diyas in the centre with strings of marigold flowers on either side. Seeing so many earthern lamps was a spectacular site, once in a life time experience. Diyas are lit by volunteers, locals and visitors. The diyas symbolise the illumination of one’s soul.
7. A close up of the diyas and flame. “Tribute was paid to the brave soldiers of the country through a replica of Amar Jawan Jyoti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. The brave martyrs were also honoured with `Bhagirath Shaurya Samman`.” Deccan Chronicle.
8. One gets to meet see different type of people at Kashi ghats. This young girl, using the phone as a mirror, applies red colour on her face.
9. Rudraksh on hand. Kashi is also known as the ‘City of Light’. It is also home to the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir and Benaras Hindu University. Sarnath and Ramanagar Fort are close by. Lots of temples and super chat (Kashi Chat Bhandar).
10. Lighting diyas in the morning on the ghats of Kashi. On Kartik Purnima devotees go for a Kartik Sanan in the Holy Ganga. There is a fireworks display too which makes the evening even more spectacular.
11. So much happiness on face of lady who is lighting a diya.
12. Lady is full of positive energy. Kanchi Paramacharya, Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi said, “The idea in lighting the deepam with such consecration is that every person who sees the light and every living creature, worm, insect, bird, beast or plant, on which the lustre of the deepam falls, will be suffused with the presence of God and will be blessed by Him.”
13. Divine. This is on the ghats of Kashi. Note ladies have removed their footwear. Sadhguru on the Fire element https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/wisdom/article/fire-element-four-types-of-agni
14. Diyas in the shape of a Linga. Pranams. On Agni or fire Sadhguru wrote, “Though among the five elements, fire accounts for the smallest proportion in the composition of the human body, its influence is tremendous. In many ways, fire represents life. One major indicator for whether you are alive or dead is if the fire is still on in you, or if your body has gone cold.”
15. The famous Ganga Aarti in progress. This year “21 women priests and 51 ‘Dev Kanyas’ worshipped the Goddess Ganga and performed Aarti at the Dashashwamedh Ghat.”
16. Puja on.
17. An aging Swami. To read about author’s book Varanasi-A passage to Immortality https://www.esamskriti.com/e/Culture/India-Travel-ad-Yatras/Varanasi-~-A-Passage-To-Immortality-1.aspx
18. A Swami in a boat in the Holy Ganga. To enjoy Kashi, take an early morning boat from Assi ghat (first) to Rajghat and see sunrise.
19. Diyas on the ghats, right is Ma Gange. Walk on the ghats during Dev Deepavali to experience it best and internalise the energy.
20. Now some person pics. Note the sparkle in his eyes. To know about Rudhraksha https://www.esamskriti.com/e/Culture/Indian-Culture/About-RUDRAKSHA--1.aspx
21. On banks of Ma Ganga, probably looking at the rising sun.
22. Love the look. In the ghats of Kashi one gets to see many people, young and old, like this.
23. Observing in joy. Enjoy Holi in Vrindavan, also by Rishi https://www.esamskriti.com/a/Uttar-Pradesh/Holi-Vrindavan.aspx
24. Observing in joy. Enjoy Holi in Vrindavan, also by Rishi https://www.esamskriti.com/a/Uttar-Pradesh/Holi-Vrindavan.aspx
25. Wrestler lifting a gada.
26. One of the older homes in the streets of Kashi. Read for a vg piece on Kashi, Ayodhya Yatra https://www.esamskriti.com/e/Culture/India-Travel-ad-Yatras/Kashi,-Ayodhya,-Prayagraj-Yatra~A-lifetime-experience-to-remember--1.aspx
27. Lovely picture, observe.
28. In the streets of Kashi, one of the oldest cities of the world. Read by Seema Burman Significance of Kartik Purnima https://www.esamskriti.com/e/Culture/Festivals/What-is-the-significance-of-Kartik-Purnima-1.aspx
29. In thought.
30. We met him on the ghats of Kashi. Swami Varishthananda tells why devotees visit Kashi https://www.esamskriti.com/e/Culture/India-Travel-ad-Yatras/Why-is-Varanasi-a-pilgrimage-destination--1.aspx
31. Observe the depth in his look.
32. The Diya, the flame. Agni. To see People of Kashi celebrating Dev Deepavali in 2013 https://www.esamskriti.com/a/Uttar-Pradesh/People-of-Kashi-celebrating-Dev-Deepavali.aspx
33. It was cold at night. Standing next to a fire on the banks of Ma Ganga. To see a 2013 of Dev Deepavali Kashi https://www.esamskriti.com/a/Uttar-Pradesh/Dev-Deepavali-Kashi.aspx