'Deep Daan Mahotsav' organized on Vaikunth Chaturdashi in Rishikesh

Rishikesh, Nov.2: Thousands of lamps illuminated the river banks of Ganga here during the ''Deep Daan Mahotsav'' or, a lamp offering festival, marked here annually on the occasion of Vaikunth Chaturdashi.

Vaikunth Chaturdashi falls on 14th day of the waxing phase of moon in Kartik month as per Hindu almanac.

Legend has it that lit lamps made Lord Vishnu to come out of his deep slumber on Vaikuntha Chaturdashi.

However, the environment conscious people who converged here on this religious occasion in large numbers lit the flour-based lamps mostly, as they dissolve in water.

Rajinder Sethi, President, Clean Ganga Water Committee, said, " We are making the people aware to keep Ganga clean and pollution free because of the increased levels of pollution in Ganges we are requesting everyone to help us keep the river clean."

People participated with full enthusiasm and also attended cultural programmes organized on the occasion.

"Today is ''Deep Daan Mahotsav'' and we have made an OM (sacred Hindu symbol) and we are taking an oath not to pollute the river Ganges and keep it clean," said Deepali Aggarwal, one of the devotees.

Devotees performed Ganga Aarti (prayer) in the evening. For the onlooker tourists, in particular, the illumination of so many lamps and the evening worship of holy river Ganges was a magnificent sight.

Hundreds of thousands of Hindus converge on the banks of River Ganges on this occasion and mark the auspicious day by lighting earthen lamps and floating them in the holy river.

''Deep Daan mahotsav'' is also used as an occasion to spread awareness about River Ganga and the need to protect it from pollution.

--ANI