Varanasi, 18 Oct

(HS): On

Saturday, a six-day 'Deep Jyoti Mahotsav' began at the Kashi Vishwanath Dham

here in honor of Dhanteras, with the venerated temple decked with fragrant

flowers and lights. The Annapurna temple, which is part of the Kashi Vishwanath

complex, was likewise elaborately decorated.

The Kashi Vishwanath Dham has been decked with countless quintals of

scented, colorful flowers that Lord Shiva adores. Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, CEO of

Kashi Vishwanath Dham, stated that the temple courtyard would host numerous

rituals and cultural programs over the next six days, providing devotees with a

unique spiritual experience.

The

temple will be lighted with diyas on Diwali night. The next day, the 'Annakoot Mahotsav' would

feature 56 different types of offerings, including around 14 quintals of sweets

and delicacies, offered to Lord Vishwanath and Ma Annapurna, Mishra added. Many of the sweets, like as various varieties

of laddus and savouries, would be prepared by the temple administration, while

others will be obtained from well-known sweet shops around Kashi, he added.

Meanwhile,

Varanasi Mayor Ashok Tiwari examined Diwali, Chhath Puja, and Dev Deepawali

preparations from Assi Ghat to Rajghat, urging staff to complete cleaning,

illumination, safety, and management tasks on time. Tiwari stated that the objective is to make

the festive season enjoyable and convenient for believers and visitors while

keeping the city's spiritual appeal.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi