Dev Deepawali

Dev Deepawali is celebrated on the occasion of Kartik Poornima when the Ghats of Varanasi come alive with thousands of Diyas (earthen lamps). Dev Deepavali, celebrated on the fifteenth day of Diwali, is a tribute to river Ganga by the people of Varanasi. Dev Deepavali is held on the full moon day in the month of Kartik (also known as Kartik Purnima) and is observed with great fanfare and feasts. It is believed that on the day of Dev Deepavali, the Gods descend on Earth. It is interesting to note that the Kartik Purnima festival also coincides with the Jain light festival and Guru Nanak Jayanti.

A Look Back to 1978 When Currency Notes Were Last Scrapped

It was on 16 January 1978 that the country was told that the Janata Party coalition, which had assumed office a year earlier, has decided to scrap Rs 1,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 notes.

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) history (third volume) details how things happened.

बैंक खुलने से पहले पहुंचे लोग

प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेंद्र मोदी द्वारा 8 नवंबर की रात को राष्ट्र को किए अपने संबोधन में 500 और 1000 के नोटों पर पाबंदी के बाद वीरवार को बैनों के अंदर और बाहर ग्राहकों का जमावड़ा लगा रहा। लोग बैंक खुलने से पहले ही बैंकों में पहुँच गए और बैंक बंद होने के बाद भी कुछ लोग बाहर जानेको राजी नहीं हुए। बैंक अधिकारियों और ग्राहकों के बीच नोंक-झोंक सारा दिन चलती रही। कई बैंकों में सुरक्षा के लिए पुलिस तक को बुलाना पड़ा।
सारा दिन लगी रही नोट बदलने और कैश जमा कराने की होड़ के बीच कहीं सिस्टम खराब रहा तो कहीं स्टाफ ने लोगों को दो टूक जवाब दिया। कई बैंकों में दोपहर से जवाब मिलने लगा कि बैंक में पैसे खत्म हो गए हैं। इस सब कुछ के चलते जनता बेहाल हुई और बहुत सारे लोगों को बैरंग लौटना पड़ा। इस दौड़ धूप में जहां कुछ लोग केंद्र सरकार को कोस रहे थे, तो वहीं ऐसे भी बहुत सारे लोग थे, जो पीएम के फैसले को देश हित में बताते हुए हर तरह की मुश्किल झेलने को तैयार थे।

Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja Shashtri Ghat Varuna Bridge

Adalpura Sheetla Mata Temple

Sheetla mata Temple is situated in Adalpura, 5 km from Chunar, on the banks of the holy river Ganges. It is one of the most revered Shakti peeths of the presiding deity, Sheetla Devi. The temple is visited by large number of peoples daily. Big congregations are held during Navratras in Chaitra (April) and Ashwin (October) months. Adalpura Sheetla Mata Temple is 25 km from Varanasi, adalpura is a renowned religious place dedicated to Goddess Sheetla. 

Sita Samahit Sthal (Sitamarhi)

Sita Samahit Sthal (Sitamarhi), the holy place of Sitamarhi is situated between Allahabad and Varanasi, near the national highway No. 2 and also connected with Allahabad and Varanasi railway line with Jungiganj, the nearest railway station. It is a well known Hindu pilgrimage and a good tourist spot with a lot of tourists almost throughout the year.

It is said that this temple is the place where Sita went into the earth when she willed it while she was living with Saint Valmiki in the forest of Sitamarhi. It was Saint Valmiki who wrote Ramayana. According to Ramayana when Lord Rama came to Sita to ask her to come with him. According to Ramayana and other sacred books of Hindu dharma, when Lord Rama returned from the grand victory on Ravana the powerful king of Lanka. After becoming the king of Ayodhya a big yaga was held by Lord Rama and the horse of that grand yagya Ashvamedha was released from Ayodhya, the horse was to move in any direction or in any kingdom, the king of that kingdom should have to declare Rama as his Emperor. When the horse was wandering in the jungle of now Baripur village of Sant Ravidas Nagar, the two sons of Sita captured the horse according to the declaration that was tagged on the forehead of the horse. All the great warriors of Lord Rama Including Laxman, Bharat, Saturghna, Sugreev, Nal-Neel were defeated in the fierce battle between the two Lav and Kush the most powerful Hanuman was tied by them. At last the great Rama had to come to that place to fight the two children whom no one accepted Sita and the saint Valmiki. No one knew that both boys are the prince of Ayodhaya and the son of Rama. When Rama came to the battlefield, all the holy souls of the three world comes to see the rare scene and Sita also comes to Lord Rama and said with folded palm that she served with Her all efforts and love and it was time to end this human life (note human life because they were God and Goddess) after she asked Her mother (the earth) to take her into her lap. She left behind Her two sons Luv and Kush whom Lord Rama took to the Ayodhya empire.