Dev Deepawali, also known as Dev Diwali, is an important Hindu festival celebrated in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The name Dev Deepawali means The Diwali of the Gods. It is believed that Varanasi, one of the holiest places on Earth, looks vibrant with the grandeur celebrations of Dev Deepawali.

As per the beliefs, the Gods descend on the ghats of the Ganges River. It falls on Karthik Poornima, the full moon of the Hindu month of Karthika. It is celebrated with utmost fervour. However, this year, there was confusion over the date of Dev Deepwali of Kashi, which has been finally cleared.

The Varanasi Commissioner, Kaushal Raj Sharma recently revealed the date of finalising Dev Deepawali after he held a meeting with Dev Deepawali committees, scholars, the hotel association, the cultural department and the tourism department. According to their collective decision, this year, the auspicious occasion will be celebrated in Kashi on November 27.

As per the information available, on November 27, all 84 ghats of Varanasi will be decorated and illuminated with lakhs of lamps. The Maha Aarti will be performed with cultural events and laser shows. The Ganga Aarti or Maha Aarti is one of the highlights of this festival. Priests offer prayers, chant mantras and make offerings to the river. The chanting of hymns with the bells creates an ethereal experience for thousands of those who gather to witness it. Apart from this, many other events are also scheduled on this day making it an unforgettable experience.

There was confusion because the Kashi Vidvat Parishad had previously declared November 26 as Dev Deepawali, per the scriptures. However, the Commissioner along with other authorities finalised the date of Diwali on November 27 as per the traditions. This led to a lot of confusion, which also affected the tourists.

As the new dates have been declared, the city of Varanasi is now eagerly waiting for Dev Deepawali to arrive, a celebration that marks the rich cultural heritage, traditions and spiritual significance of the place, as the city will come together on the banks of the Ganges.