Around 17 lakh diyas were lighted on Friday in honor of Dev Deepawali, illuminating Varanasi’s famous ghats and structures among the glittering of thousands of diyas. Along with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, other attendees included Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
The newly constructed Namo Ghat echoed with festive music, laser shows, firecracker displays, and grand cultural programs as the Vice President launched the Dev Deepawali celebrations. That was essentially the scenario at every ghat.
Eleven lakh diyas were lighted on the Ganga’s ghats as the sun set, and then there was a five-minute firecracker show.
Twenty-one pundits performed Ganga Arti at Dashashwamedh Ghat with forty-two girls dressed as Riddhis and Siddhis. Namo Ghat hosted the cultural evening at 5 p.m.
The audience was mesmerized by a laser light and sound extravaganza that was staged at Chet Singh Ghat. An eco-friendly cracker performance in front of the temple of Kashi Vishwanath enhanced the joyous occasion. The ghats’ illuminated buildings and decorated boats provided guests with a visual feast. The event reached a new level with the addition of cultural performances and a conch-blowing ceremony by young Sanskrit students (Batuks).
80 ponds and ghats along the Gomti and Varuna rivers were also decorated with almost 5 lakh lamps with public participation.
An additional 1.25 lakh diyas were lit by individuals in their homes and at the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
The newest contemporary ghat to be added to Varanasi’s ghats is Namo Ghat. With top-notch facilities, it attracts visitors who want to sit on its expansive platform and take in the magnificent Subah-e-Banaras.
Known as Varanasi’s first model ghat, it is approximately 1.5 km long and extends to Adikeshav Ghat. In addition to having a helipad, this ghat has a floating CNG station, an open-air theater, pools, a floating jetty with bathing areas, and changing rooms.