Varanasi, Nov 4 (UNI) Kashi is set to celebrate a grand and well-organised Dev Deepawali tomorrow, showcasing faith, culture, and technology in perfect harmony. This year, the event will feature 10 lakh diyas, a 3D projection and laser show titled “Kashi Katha”, and eco-friendly green fireworks illuminating the Ganga ghats.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to be present on the occasion and is likely to watch the ghats from a cruise on Ganga.
UP Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said, “This Dev Deepawali will present Kashi in its most organised and immersive form, where every devotee can experience faith with comfort and safety.”
He added that more than 13 crore tourists have already visited Varanasi in the first half of 2025, reflecting the city’s rising global appeal. “Thousands of potter families and women’s self-help groups are part of the diya production process, making this festival a symbol of inclusive growth and local empowerment,” he noted.
Key highlights of Dev Deepawali 2025:
• 10 lakh Diyas to illuminate 88 Ghats
Lighting across 88 ghats will be managed by 83 local committees. Around 8 lakh diyas will adorn the ghats, while another 2 lakh diyas will brighten 97 other locations across the city.
• Power illumination across city
All major routes, riverfront parapets, and government offices will be decorated with lights. Hotels and markets will also glow under the coordination of the Vyapar Mandal and Hotel Association.
• Collective Ganga Aarti at eight major ghats
Unified Aarti will take place at Namo, Gai, Panchganga, Dashashwamedh, Sheetla, Dandkar, Tulsi, and Assi ghats for a coordinated spiritual experience.
• Kashi Katha 3D show and green fireworks
The 3D projection and laser show will begin at 7:30pm, in three hourly sessions, followed by a ten-minute green fireworks display at 8:00pm near Ganga Dwar.
• Four-Day cultural prelude at Namo Ghat
From November 1 to 4, daily performances by classical, folk, and theatre artists were held at Namo Ghat, offering a rich cultural prelude to the main celebration.
• Strong on-ground management
The ghats and the opposite bank have been divided into 20 sectors, each under a nodal officer for smooth diya distribution, lighting, and crowd movement.
In an effort to promote rural tourism, the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department will organise traditional Dev Deepawali celebrations in selected villages Madhopur, Chandrawati, Umrah, and Rahati across Varanasi and Jaunpur districts.
The main celebration will be at Shooltankeshwar Mahadev Temple Ghat, Madhopur, where 500 locally made diyas will light up the riverbank. The event will include a 'Heritage Storytelling' session on the legend of Shooltankeshwar Mahadev, along with discussions on environmental conservation and rural tourism development.
Other villages including Chandrawati (birthplace of Jain Tirthankara Chandraprabhu), Umrah, and Trilochan Mahadev will host their own traditional festivities, marking a major step in strengthening village level tourism and livelihoods.
A grand Dev Deepawali celebration will also take place at Shravan Dham, Chuitipara (Ambedkar Nagar) on November 5, with community participation. Over 21,000 diyas will illuminate the shrine and ghats, accompanied by Bhajan Sandhya, Rangoli competition, folk dance, and fireworks, creating a vibrant fusion of devotion and rural art.
UNI MBD PPP PRS