Ganga Festival in Varanasi

Apart from being one of the most important religious cities, and one of the popular tourist places in India, the city of Varanasi also throbs with a great many religious and cultural festivals and events. Each of these occasions is marked with color and joy, and pomp and show. The Ganga Festival in Varanasi is one of the significant ceremonies held every year.

This famous festival is celebrated between the months of October and November from Prabodhani Ekadashi to Kartik Purnima. It is dedicated to the Goddess Ganga and during this festival, the worship of the glorious River Ganga is the main ritual. The Ganga Festival in Varanasi is actually a celebration to refresh and recognize the ancient charm and grace of the River Ganga. This auspicious festival is attended by visitors from all over the places. People take part in it with great enthusiasm and happiness.

During the Ganga Festival in Varanasi, people come down to the city of Varanasi to worship the great River Ganga. It is the perfect time of the year when they can pay a tribute to the resplendent aura and power of the magnificent river.

Apart from being a religious festival, the Ganga Festival in Varanasi highlights the rich Indian heritage and reflects a splendiferous cultural essence. People of different castes, classes, communities, nationalities, whether rich or poor mingle together to celebrate and cherish the Ganga Festival in Varanasi with elaborate ornamentation and lavish arrangements. In the evenings, the devotees set afloat earthen lamps on lotus leaves along the Ganga River. At this point of time, the river looks gorgeous with the lights of the lamps. The ghats are all crowded and the whole city evokes a sense of life, energy and spirit.

Boat race, martial arts and many other cultural shows are organized during this festival. The end of the Ganga Festival in Varanasi marks another festival named Dev Deepavali.