Overview
- Uttar Pradesh officials said around 25 lakh earthen lamps were lit across Varanasi, with independent tallies generally ranging between 15 and 25 lakh citywide.
- Millions of devotees took ritual baths on Kartik Purnima as evening events featured synchronized Ganga aarti at eight major ghats, a ‘Kashi Katha’ 3D projection show, and a coordinated green-fireworks display.
- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath lit the inaugural lamp at Namo Ghat, a replica of the Amar Jawan Jyoti stood at Dashashwamedh Ghat, soldiers received Bhagirath Shaurya Samman, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared visuals and greetings.
- Authorities declared a no-fly zone, curbed drones, and deployed NDRF, water police, zonal crowd controls, and plainclothes women officers to manage the influx of devotees and VIPs.
- The state expanded festivities to heritage villages in Varanasi district and nearby areas such as Ayodhya, Jaunpur, and Ambedkarnagar, with community-led lamp lighting, cultural programs, and emphasis on eco-diyas and local potter participation.