Dev Diwali: Festival of Gods in Varanasi

Dev Diwali, also called Dev Deepawali, transforms Varanasi into a celestial city of light. On the full moon night of Kartik, the eighty-four ghats along the Ganges are lit with over ten lakh (one million) earthen lamps arranged in rows stretching along the ancient stone steps. This is believed to be the night when Shiva defeated the demon Tripurasura, and the gods celebrate with their own festival of lights.

The Legend

The Illuminated Ghats

Ganga Aarti and Rituals

Beyond Varanasi