CM Yogi joins Deepotsav at Sant Ravidas Ghat on Guru Purnima
Synopsis
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath joined the Deepotsav celebration at Sant Ravidas Ghat in Varanasi on Guru Purnima, 29 July 2026. The annual festival of lights, held since 2018, is central to the UP government's religious tourism strategy along the Ganges riverfront.
Key Takeaways
CM Yogi Adityanath participated in Deepotsav at Sant Ravidas Ghat, Varanasi on 29 July 2026 .
The event was held on the occasion of Guru Purnima , the full-moon festival honouring spiritual teachers.
The Uttar Pradesh government has organised Deepotsav in Varanasi annually since 2018 .
The festival supports local artisans through bulk orders of earthen diyas and promotes religious tourism.
Sant Ravidas Ghat is named after the 15th-century saint-poet Ravidas, a revered figure in Dalit spiritual tradition.
Thousands of earthen lamps flickered to life along the Ganges on Wednesday evening, 29 July 2026, as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath joined the Deepotsav celebration at Sant Ravidas Ghat in Varanasi — turning the ancient riverfront into a river of light on the sacred occasion of Guru Purnima.
The Chief Minister's Office of Uttar Pradesh announced his participation with the verse 'Deepon ki deepti, aastha ka aalok' — 'the radiance of lamps, the luminescence of faith' — capturing the mood of a city that has made this festival its signature spectacle.
Sant Ravidas Ghat: a setting steeped in devotion
Sant Ravidas Ghat carries its own weight of history. Named after the 15th-century saint-poet Ravidas — whose verses on equality and devotion remain central to Dalit spiritual tradition — the ghat sits on the western bank of the Ganges in one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. Holding Deepotsav here, on Guru Purnima — the full-moon day dedicated to honouring teachers and spiritual guides — layers the event with meaning: lamps for the departed guru, light as homage. Guru Purnima is observed across Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions, typically falling in July, when disciples gather at temples and riverbanks to pay reverence to their lineage of teachers.Deepotsav as state signature: Varanasi's annual festival of light
The Yogi Adityanath administration has organised Deepotsav in Varanasi annually since 2018, positioning the event as a centrepiece of the state's religious tourism push. The formula is deliberate: mass lamp-lighting along the ghats, official presence, and national media attention — all aimed at cementing Varanasi's identity as Uttar Pradesh's spiritual showpiece. The broader strategy ties into riverfront infrastructure upgrades and expanding pilgrimage circuits across the state. Local artisans who supply the earthen diyas are among the direct beneficiaries, with bulk government orders providing a seasonal economic lift. Varanasi is also the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which gives every major state event here an added layer of political and symbolic visibility. As the lamps burned and the Ganges reflected the glow of thousands of flames, the message from Lucknow was unmistakable: Uttar Pradesh intends to keep Varanasi at the centre of India's religious and cultural calendar — and Deepotsav is the event it has chosen to prove it.Point of View
Invoking a saint central to Dalit identity on a day of spiritual reverence. The choice of Varanasi — Prime Minister Modi's own constituency — ensures maximum national visibility for what is, at its core, a state-level cultural programme. As UP heads into future electoral cycles, the fusion of faith, heritage, and governance optics at events like Deepotsav will remain a defining feature of the administration's public communication.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Deepotsav in Varanasi?
Deepotsav is an annual festival of lights organised by the Uttar Pradesh government in Varanasi, featuring mass lighting of earthen lamps along the Ganges ghats. It has been held every year since 2018 as part of the state's religious tourism initiative.
Why did CM Yogi attend Deepotsav on Guru Purnima 2026?
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath participated in the Deepotsav celebration at Sant Ravidas Ghat in Varanasi on 29 July 2026 to mark Guru Purnima, the full-moon festival dedicated to honouring spiritual teachers and gurus.
Where is Sant Ravidas Ghat in Varanasi?
Sant Ravidas Ghat is located on the western bank of the Ganges river in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It is named after the 15th-century saint-poet Ravidas, a revered figure in Dalit and Bhakti traditions.
What is Guru Purnima and when is it celebrated?
Guru Purnima is a Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain festival observed on the full moon day in the month of Ashadha, typically falling in July. It is dedicated to honouring teachers and spiritual guides across traditions.
How does Deepotsav benefit local communities in Varanasi?
Deepotsav generates direct economic benefit for local artisans who supply the earthen diyas used during the festival. The event also boosts religious tourism, bringing pilgrims and visitors to Varanasi's ghats.
