For centuries this city has been referred to by different names. Varanasi (aka) Banares (aka) Kashi. I call it Kashi.
Kashi is probably the only place I have spent more time during my road trips. The last time I visited Kashi I stayed there for 20 days. And yet, when I visit it the next time I know it will be a totally new experience filled with discovering the newer sides of Kashi. That is how Kashi is. Every frame of Kashi has so much stillness and so much activity. I have a lot of stories from here but will reserve that for the future. Today, I want to share my mind-blowing experience of the Dev Diwali celebrations in Varanasi.
Kashi Dev Deepawali is celebrated on the full moon of Kartika month (as per the Hindu calendar). This day also falls 14-15 days after Deepawali. Two weeks after Diwali is how I remember this date. In 2020 when I was in Kashi for the first time, I was told about this festival. I still remember when a few travelers spoke about this festival their eyes lit up with joy and they were all waiting for the festival. I decided to give it a miss in 2020 since I want to be in Kedarnath for Diwali. But the stars aligned well in 2021 and I was all set to experience Dev Deepawali in Kashi.
The entire place transforms in an hour. Between 6 to 7 pm. The ghats get full and the entire ghats section of Kashi from Ravidhas ghat to Raj ghat is filled with a sea of humans, enjoying the evening with friends clicking photos and more importantly showing off their accomplishments, the lit Diyas. We did the same too. The residents of the Shivalaya ghat invited us to spend the evening with them lighting Diyas and sending a few lanterns up in the sky. This was the first time sending up a lantern. And I absolutely loved the first experience. I am still trying my best to get my hands on this video. Will upload it here as soon as I have it.
The fellow humans of Kashi
LED Shows
The fireworks
Never seen anything like it. Probably Varanasi is the only where you can experience this. 1 crore people in the ghats, Lamps, Laser shows, fireworks, everything making the fast-flowing Ganga lit up. Ganga reflects all the colors. People exuberantly walking around, boys walking in groups, you go where the crowd moves, scream when they all stream, jump in joy when the music beats go up,
I ended the night at 1 am with a perfect butter dosa. This was the day, I became a fan of the Varanasi dosas. I have come to a conclusion since then that Varanasi makes better Dosa and chutneys. Even better than what is served in Tamilnadu and Karnataka.
The next Dev Diwali is happening on Nov 7th, 2022. It is usually the full moon after Diwali. So 14 days after Diwali. Diwali usually being on an Amavasya day. Dev Diwali happens on the full moon.