09 Dec 2018

DEV DEEPAWALI IN VARANASI, THE CAN’T MISS SPIRITUAL HEART OF INDIA

Varanasi, also known as the spiritual place where you find all kind of the global trotters to find not only the truth of life but also the happiness in such intense yet vibrant town ! Located along the bank of holy river Ganges , in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh , Varanasi is one of the oldest continually inhibited cities in the world!

Daily life here unfolds at a chaotic pace and that’s similar to how it has for centuries. Watching men, women and children irrespective of ages are taking a dip in Holy Ganges as they believe their sins are washed away. On other side , funeral processions line the streets , where Hindu make their final journey to their final resting – to be burnt in Mani Karnika Ghat, one of the holiest ghat yet often a confronting site. All day along, bodies are cremated on top of pyre on the river front steps. It perplexed me in several dimension to understand yet I am not deeply moved away. It’s a challenging custom to watch yet a truly compelling spectacle.

The visit during the Dev Deepawali paved the way to dive deep into the culture, tradition and rituals despite it happens once a year. Why Dev Deepawali? It is considered as the festival of light and observed on the full moon day of Karthik month. It is celebrated to honor the victory of Lord Shiva over the demon. The great victory is believed to have happened on the full moon day in Karthik month. Thousands of People from different parts of the state flocked to Varanasi on the auspicious day. The whole ancient town would be filled with festive mood and the streets were filled with lights. I was told that festival would be commenced on 23^rd Nov 2019 that I had to plan accordingly.

During the festival, houses were decorated with diyas, and the door fronts with Rangoli. The thousands of diyas were set afloat on the Ganges to please the Goddess. It was an elaborate affair , with the special evening Ganga Arati, which lighted up the entire Ganga with the thousands of earthen lamps which floated over the surface. The energy in the air was palpable that you could feel your hearts surge with it. Boom! Dash! And a Boom again. The dazzling fireworks bedazzled the onlookers with the beauty of sparks which were like jewels embellished in the darkness of night.

On the day of festival, Thousands upon thousands of people thronged the temples and Ghats. Government officials and cops would work relentlessly to maintain the smooth flow of traffic despite many narrow lanes in the heart of the city.

One has to stroll around the streets yet not a luxury way and sense the beautiful yet simple things that would connect with the soul of Varanasi; Wandering around the city in Riksha would pave the way to understand the depth of chaotic yet vibrant Varanasi that one shouldn’t miss. Last but not least there is a lot of food joints that one must try to feel the real essence of Great Varanasi! One must experience to visit such chaotic yet beautiful Banaras to witness the beautiful festival.

Thank you Sony Team for letting me to use your Sony A7III body and Sony FE 16-35mm f2.8 GM lens.