Varanasi Dev Diwali 2023: This time an atmosphere of enthusiasm and gaiety is visible regarding the festival of lights in Ramnagari Ayodhya. This festival of lights before Ramlala is installed in the grand temple is very special, hence it is being celebrated in a grand manner. Similarly, there are preparations for a grand celebration of Dev Diwali in the world’s oldest religious city, Kashi. This time on Dev Diwali, all previous records are likely to be broken in Kashi. Booking of almost all the hotels in Varanasi is full even before Dev Diwali. The situation is such that despite paying several times the price, rooms are not available in hotels and lodges on the banks of Ganga. After the Deepotsav of Ayodhya, lakhs of tourists are expected to come during Dev Diwali of Kashi. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also given instructions to the Varanasi Commissionerate Police regarding strict security management and other preparations regarding Dev Diwali. It is being told that this time more than five lakh tourists are likely to come on Dev Diwali. In such a situation, strong security arrangements will be made. Along with this, other preparations will also be strengthened at the ghats, so that devotees and tourists do not face any kind of problem.
Strict arrangements made regarding security
According to officials, a complete blueprint for security arrangements has been prepared by dividing 84 ghats in Varanasi into 9 zones, 11 sectors and 32 sub-sectors. According to Varanasi Police Commissioner Mutha Ashok Jain and District Magistrate S Rajalingam, the maximum crowd is expected at the seven ghats in Kashi during Dev-Diwali. These include Assi Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Ahilyabai Ghat, Rajghat, Chetsingh Ghat, Namo Ghat and Panchganga Ghat.
Quick response team will be present at crowded places
Varanasi Commissionerate Police has already prepared a complete plan for the security of the ghats. Force will also be deployed on a large scale in the narrow streets adjacent to the ghats. Apart from this, 20 teams of Quick Response Team will be deployed at the highly crowded ghats. Besides, 11 special teams will be deployed with loudspeakers for patrolling the ghats. There will also be anti-Roma squad teams at 17 major ghats of Kashi. A team of women policemen will also be present at every ghat. Apart from this, a squad of 16 divers will be available.
1200 boats will be present in Ganga
He told that on Dev Diwali, about 1200 boats will operate in the Ganga to show the divine and grand view of the ghats to the tourists. A meeting has already been completed with the sailors regarding this. For crowd management, barricading will be done in Maidagin, Assi, Godaulia, Bhadau Chungi and Ramapura. There will be 11 pink booths for the safety of women. Integrated emergency helpdesks will also be set up at Rajghat, Namoghat, Hanuman Temple of Ramnagar, Bengali Tola Inter College, Dumrao Bagh, Godaulia Square and Ramapura Square. Anti Terrorist Squad teams will also be deployed for the impenetrable security of Kashi on Dev Diwali.
Due to huge crowd of tourists, vehicles have to be brought from other districts.
Meanwhile, tourists are taking the help of tour operators to participate in the wonderful joy of Dev Diwali. Due to this, the demand for travel vehicles and taxis has increased. According to tour operators, to meet the demand, small four-wheelers have to be procured from nearby districts. Apart from booking rooms in hotels, tour operators have also made booking of transportation and boats in the package on Dev Diwali. The hotels are full of tourists. Most of the tourists have made bookings for five days.
Special gates will be made for entry from three ghats on Dev Diwali.
On Dev Diwali, the Tourism Department will make three entry gates to enter Ganga. Deputy Director Tourism RK Rawat said that apart from the Judges Guest House in the front ghat, VIPs will get entry from Namo Ghat and Raj Ghat. The Deputy Director said that public representatives and guests will enter from Namo Ghat. Administrative officers will be able to enter from Rajghat, judges and other officers will be able to enter from Judges Guest House. Special care will be taken to ensure that the guests do not face any problem in getting on and off the boat. For the convenience of the guests, a jetty will be installed in the Ganga. With its help, tourists will be able to easily board and deboard boats. Tourists come to Kashi to see the lamps lit on the banks of the crescent-shaped Ganga on Dev Diwali on 27 November.
400 artists will perform in the Sanskriti Sansad competition
This time on Dev Diwali, the winning participants of Kashi MP Culture Mahotsav will perform at Rajghat. A stage will be built for this at Rajghat. According to officials, apart from 400 winning artists, other local artists will also perform. Local artists will perform from 23rd to 26th November, while artists from Mayanagari will give cultural presentations on 27th November.