Every year as the full moon rises over the holy city of Varanasi on Kartik Poornima, an aura of magic sweeps across its ancient ghats. Varanasi is the oldest city in India where spirituality breathes through every alley and ghat. While most of India celebrates Diwali with fervour in late October or early November, Varanasi’s grandest night of lights unfolds later, during the full moon of Kartik Poornima, with the spectacular festival known as Dev Deepawali, the “Diwali of the Gods.”
Dev Diwali at Varanasi carries a rich significance and energy that sets it apart from the Diwali celebrated in most parts of India. Traditionally, Diwali marks the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya and the triumph of light over darkness. However, the Dev Deepawali celebration in Varanasi commemorates an entirely different victory, one tied to the very essence of this holy city. The most picturesque festival, Dev Deepawali is celebrated every year fifteen days after Deepawali. The ghats come alive with lights, chants and prayers. The mighty Ganga is lit up with endless floating lamps. It's an infinitely divine experience.
It was on the auspicious day of Kartik Poornima that Lord Shiva vanquished the demon trio, Tripurasura, bringing peace to the heavens and earth alike. In celebration of this celestial victory, deities are believed to descend to earth to the ghats of Varanasi each year, blessing the city in a spectacle of light and reverence that is both divine and profoundly moving.
| Destination | Varanasi |
|---|---|
| Included |
|
| Excluded |
|
Every year as the full moon rises over the holy city of Varanasi on Kartik Poornima, an aura of magic sweeps across its ancient ghats. Varanasi is the oldest city in India where spirituality breathes through every alley and ghat. While most of India celebrates Diwali with fervour in late October or early November, Varanasi’s grandest night of lights unfolds later, during the full moon of Kartik Poornima, with the spectacular festival known as Dev Deepawali, the “Diwali of the Gods.”
Dev Diwali at Varanasi carries a rich significance and energy that sets it apart from the Diwali celebrated in most parts of India. Traditionally, Diwali marks the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya and the triumph of light over darkness. However, the Dev Deepawali celebration in Varanasi commemorates an entirely different victory, one tied to the very essence of this holy city. The most picturesque festival, Dev Deepawali is celebrated every year fifteen days after Deepawali. The ghats come alive with lights, chants and prayers. The mighty Ganga is lit up with endless floating lamps. It's an infinitely divine experience.
In evening you will enjoy the most important ceremony on river Ganges and to enjoy Dev Diwali.
Dev Diwali Festival on Boat - As whole city, especially all major Ghats get immersed into the light of small candles especially earthen lamps. A boat ride gives tourist a full view of amazing scenes of cities and monuments that are decorated on Dev Diwali. You can watch people flowing thousands of Diyas (earthen lamps) in the holy water of Ganges dedicating to their Gods according to the ritual beliefs and culture.
Overnight stay at hotelEarly morning, we will be taken for a boat ride on the Ganges. It is a mystical and spiritual experience as you watch people offering water to the Sun God and devotees taking holy dip in the Ganges. We will visit all the famous Ghats of Varanasi via boat.
Latter enjoy the temple tour in which you will visit the most religious Kashi Vishwanath temple, Annapurna Temple, the Bharat Mata temple, Sankat Mochan (Hanuman temple), Manas Mandir, Durga Temple(Monkey Temple), Kalbhairav temple(Dwarpal of Varanasi) and Birla Temple BHU . Come back to hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, we will be taken for an excursion to Sarnath. Sarnath is the place where Buddha delivered his first sermon to his disciples in deer park. The attractions at Sarnath are the Buddha temples, the Dhamekha Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa and the archaeological museum.
Overnight stay in hotel.
