Dev Deepawali celebrated in grand way in Varanasi, ghats lit with 15 lakh earthen lamps: In Pics

The steps of all the ghats on the riverfront of the Ganges River, from Ravidas Ghat at the southern end to Rajghat, were today lit with more than a million earthen lamps (diyas) in honour of Ganga, the Ganges, and its presiding goddess.

The devotees of Lord Shiva come to Varanasi from all over the world and take a dip in the holy water of Ganges and worship the lord.

The festival is known as Dev Deepawali because it was the day that the devas celebrated Deepawali after Lord Shiva defeated the asuras. Lord Shiva primarily defeated the asura Tripurasura and that is why, Dev Deepawali is also referred to as Tripurotsav.

The festival is linked with Prabodhini Ekadashi and it marks the end of Chaturmas, a four-month period when Lord Vishnu is believed to sleep.

Dev Deepawali is celebrated with a whole lot of pomp and grandeur all over the country.