November 7, 2025
VARANASI – The holy city of Kashi witnessed a divine sight as the first rays of the Sun fell on the Ganges on Wednesday. The aura of the confluence of faith and joy radiated divinely on the ghats.
A grand gathering of devotees descended here on the crescent-shaped ghats of Kashi to take a holy dip in the Ganges. Security has been enhanced, seeing the number of the pilgrims.
Mahant Jitendra Mohan Puri of the Batuk Bhairav Temple explained that Kartik Purnima is one of the most important festivals in Hinduism, celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Kartik. This special day is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
This day is also celebrated as the grand festival of Dev Deepawali. In the evening, the ghats, ponds, temples, and lakes of Kashi are decorated with lamps. The Mahant believed that taking a bath in the Ganga on this day washes away all sins and bestows immense virtue.
It was on the day of Kartik Purnima that Lord Vishnu took the Matsya avatar. Matsya (fish) is one of the incarnations of the Hindu god Vishnu. In this appearance, Vishnu saved the world from a great flood. According to scriptures, Mahadev killed the demon Tripurasura. The legend of Tripurasura is a multifaceted story that underscores the themes of divine justice, the power of unity, and the importance of cosmic balance. Donations made on this day yield the same rewards as many yagnas. Kashi’s Dev Deepawali is world-renowned.
Assistant Police Commissioner Dr Atul Anjan Tripathi stated that millions of devotees are bathing at various ghats on the occasion of Kartik Purnima. For security purposes, all Ganga ghats have been divided into ten zones, 18 sectors, and 34 sub-sectors.
Inspectors and higher officials have been deployed at all ghats. Additional Superintendents of Police are overseeing security at several ghats, including Dashashwamedh, Assi, Rajghat, Namo, and Rajendra Prasad. Special surveillance is being conducted throughout the Ganga ghats and routes through drones, CCTV, and AI (Artificial Intelligence) surveillance.