Dev Deepavali 2016

Dev Deepavali 2016

    

 This year Dev Deepawali / Dev Diwali is on Monday, November 14, 2016.

* Dev Diwali, or Dev Deepavali, as the name indicates is the Diwali celebration of the Devas or Devta (Demi Gods).

* Dev Diwali is observed on the full moon day (Purnima) in the month of Kartik in a traditional Hindu calendar .

* The day is also known as Kartik poonam or Karthik Purnima and Tripurari Poornima.

* Dev Diwali is observed on the full moon day in the month of Kartik in traditional Hindu calendar and is a major event in Gujarat and other parts of North India. Tulsi Puja or Tulsi Vivah is a major event on Dev Diwali day for some communities.

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Dev Diwali Muhurat

Purnima Tithi Begins = 23:17 on 13/Nov/2016
Purnima Tithi Ends = 19:22 on 14/Nov/2016

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Dev Diwali marks the end of –

      * The Tulsi Vivah rituals

       * The Diwali celebrations.

       * The famous Akashadeep festival in Varanasi Ghats.

             

    
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        Legend :-  

1.    It is said that God descends from heaven to bathe in the Ganga.

2.    It is also believed that Lord Vishnu returned to Vaikunta, his abode on this day after the Vamana incarnation and visiting King Bali.

3.    Another legend has it that Lord Shiva killed the three demons, who were killing the Devas and humans, and destroyed the three cities built by them on this day. 

4.    Kartik poornima is also the birthday of Matsya, god Vishnu's fish-incarnation (Avatar).

5.    It is also the birthday of Vrinda, the personification of the Tulsi plant. This day is also observed as Tulsi Vivah by some communities.

6.    It is also the birthday   of Kartikeya, the god of war and son of Shiva.

7.    This day also is considered dear to Radha, the lover of Krishna - Vishnu's      incarnation. It is believed that Krishna and Radha danced rasa and Krishna worshipped Radha on this day. 

8.    This day is also dedicated to the pitras, dead ancestors.

9.    Another major event on is the taking of holy dip in holy rivers live Ganga, which his popularly  known as Kartik Snan.

10. Kapal Mochan Mela is observed in North India with much gusto.

11. Pushkar Mela is also celebrated in Pushkar town of Rajasthan on Dev Diwali day.

12. Mahabharata also has a reference to Dev-Deepavali.

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Tripuri  Poornima

 Kartika Purnima celebrates the power of Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva killed the demon Tripusara on this day thus the day is also called known as Tripuri poornima and Tripurari Poornima. This Purnima is one of the most propitious days for worshipping of Shiva, next only to the Maha Shivaratri. The legend associated with this goes like-

Tarakasur a demon with three demon sons- Tarakah, Kamalaksh and Vidyutmali got three moving cities constructed from Mayasur- the renowned architect of the demons. He gifted one to each son with advice not to cross the paths of Gods or disrespect them.

All three sons performed severe penance to Lord Brahma- who granted them a boon that they would live for a thousand years in three invincible moving cities called Tripuri and could be destroyed by only one arrow that would merge the three cities into one and set them on fire. The cities were made of gold, silver and iron.

Soon the three started harassing the gods. The gods then approached Lord Shiva requesting him for resque. Finally, the task of annihilating the demon fell on Lord Shiva

Lord Shiva danced the “Tandava”, the dance of destruction, that rocked the three cities. He shot an arrow piercing through the three cities at one time and the fire from his third eye burnt the three cities. The killing of the three demons spread happiness around the world. This form of Shiva is called “Tripuraari or Tripurantaka”.

This great victory happened on the full moon day in Kartik month and therefore the day is celebrated as Tripuri Poornima and it is also the day of Dev Diwali or Dev Deepavali – the Deepavali of Devas as they were liberated from the hands of the powerful demon.

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त्रिपुर अरि = त्रिपुरारि (भगवान शंकर)

             Tripuri poornima or Tripurari Poornima derives its name from Tripurari - the foe of the demon Tripurasura. Tripurari is an epithet of Lord Shiva. Shiva in his form as Tripurantaka ("Killer of Tripurasura") killed the demon on this day. Tripurasura had conquered the whole world and defeated the gods. He also created three cities in space, together called "Tripura". The killing of the demon and destruction of his cities with a single arrow - by Shiva overjoyed the gods and they pronounced the day as a festival of illuminations. This day is also called "Dev-Diwali" - the Diwali of the gods.

      

'Ganga-Aarti'

Dev Deepavali is celebrated on the occasion of Kartik Poornima when the Ghats of Varanasi come alive with thousands of Diyas (earthen lamps). Dev Deepavali, celebrated on the fifteenth day of Diwali, is a tribute to river Ganga by the people of Varanasi. Dev Deepavali is held on the full moon day in the month of Kartik (also known as Kartik Purnima) and is observed with great fanfare and feasts.

It is believed that on the day of Dev Deepavali, the Gods descend on Earth. It is interesting to note that the Kartik Purnima festival also coincides with the Jain light festival and Guru Nanak Jayanti.

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Ganga Mahotsav

Ganga Mahotsav: This is a 5-day festival, starting from Prabodhani Ekadashi to Kartik Poornima, 
 

This year the Ganga Mahotsav starts on Friday, 11th November, 2016 and will be celebrated until Monday,14th November (Kartik  Poornima /Dev Deepavali), 2016.

To mark the occasion and also to showcase the cultural heritage of Varanasi, the Uttar Pradesh Tourism department organizes a four-day Ganga Mahotsav around this period. A large number of Hindu devotees start assembling from the day of the Prabodhini Ekadasi (the eleventh day of the fortnight) itself. The official celebration is usually held on the Dasaswamedh Ghat. On the occasion of the Ganga Mahotsava, reputed artists and performers from all over the country come and perform, making the celebrations more eventful.

 

On the eve of Kartik Purnima, the number of pilgrims begins to increase manifolds and most of the pilgrims camp by the riverside. In the evening, pilgrims and local people decorate the entire riverbank with tiny earthen lamps ('Diya'). These lamps are lit as a mark of welcome to the Gods as they descend on earth. The little sparks of fir e flicker elegantly and is a wonderful sight to watch. The 'Ganga-Aarti' is an important event in the evening. Almost all Ghats organize their own ceremony. Huge lamps are set ablaze and the priest holds forth the lamp as the multitude chants the hymns.

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