Fri Nov 15 19:08:08 UTC 2024: ## Dev Diwali Lights Up Varanasi as Kartik Purnima Celebrations Conclude

**Varanasi, India** – Millions of Hindus across India celebrated Kartik Purnima, also known as Dev Diwali (Festival of Lights of the Gods), on November 15th, 2024. This auspicious full moon day marks the culmination of the month-long Kartik Snana (sacred bathing) and the Akashdeep festival in Varanasi.

The festival, considered one of the most sacred days in the Hindu calendar, commemorates the day Lord Shiva vanquished the demon Tripurasura. Celebrations included the ritual bathing in the Ganges River, particularly at Haridwar’s Hari ki Pauri and Varanasi’s ghats, believed to grant salvation to ancestors and absolve pitru dosha (ancestral curses). Those unable to bathe in the Ganges were advised to add Ganga Jal (sacred Ganges water) to their bathwater at home.

The evening witnessed a spectacular display of light as devotees lit diyas (oil lamps) along the riverbanks and in their homes. The main puja (worship) ceremony for Dev Diwali was observed between 5:10 PM and 7:47 PM, according to the Panchang (Hindu calendar). The event saw massive crowds at the ghats in Varanasi from early morning, participating in the sacred bathing, charity, and grand Ganga Aarti.

Kartik Purnima is also associated with Lord Vishnu’s Matsya Avatar (fish incarnation) and is believed to bring immense spiritual merit. Performing a Sathyanarayana Katha (story of Lord Satyanarayana) is said to bestow the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. The day holds special significance for charity, with the belief that donating food, clothing, or money equals the merit of performing ten yajnas (sacrificial rituals).

The celebrations, steeped in ancient mythology and traditions, highlighted the enduring faith and devotion of Hindus, turning Varanasi into a dazzling spectacle of light and faith.

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