‘Housefull’, say Kashi floating houses ahead of Dev Deepawali
VARANASI: With grand Dev Deepawali celebration scheduled on November 4, ‘floating houses’ or houseboats are in great demand in Varanasi these days.
This, when they are up for grabs at an unbelievable price of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh for a day.
“There are many who are ready to shell out anything to have a glimpse of Dev Deepawali celebration from a houseboat,” claims Prabhu Manjhi, a boatman.
On Dev Deepawali day, all 84 ghats, from Assi to Rajghat, are illuminated with diyas and it’s a spectacle to behold.
“Watching the grand celebration onboard a houseboat leaves foreigners spellbound as lights from earthen lamps reflects on the surface of the Ganga creating a picturesque view,” says Rajesh, a tourist guide.
Equipped with all facilities, the houseboats have been booked in advance by foreign and domestic tourist for the grand event. There are only 25 houseboats in this range in Varanasi.
“They are the first choice of international and well off domestic tourists,” says Manjhi who, like a few others, have made special arrangements at his houseboat for the once-in-a-year treat.
“From food to bedding, everything will be special,” he says while showing the comfort bedding
to be provided to tourists.
They are bedecked in such a way that they look alike beautiful houses floating in the lap of the Ganga. The houseboat chambers are sprinkled with rose water and cleaned. While many
tourists prefer to board the boat during noon, others be there since morning and spend whole day sailing from one ghat to another.
For international tourists, who want to have lunch and dinner on boat, cooking arrangements are made on the boats.
Besides houseboats, there are big, medium and small boats, numbering around 1,200.
. Boatmen claim they too have been booked for the festival this year.
Among them, a big size boat, which can carry 25 people, costs somewhere between Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 for a few hours, while Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 is charged for a medium-size boat with a capacity of 10 to 15 passengers.
Similarly, Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000 is charged for a small boat with a capacity of 5 to 10 passengers.
Such is the rush that some tourists make payment in advance for next year.
While Dev Deepawali celebrations attracts tourists from across the globe, it will be special this time as BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani has been invited as special guest by chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who will also grace the occasion.
Advani and family are expected to watch the celebrations at the famous Dashashwamedh Ghat.
An official in the district protocol office said the administration was all prepared to welcome the CM and BJP veteran Advani though the official protocol is yet to be received.
“We have got the verbal information on Advaniji’s visit and the party is planning a grand welcome,” said Sanjay Bhardwaj, BJP spokesperson, Kashi region.