Dates follow the lunar calendar. Purnima tithi runs from about 11:42 PM on 23 November to 8:23 PM on 24 November 2026 (IST, per Drik Panchang). The district administration announces the evening’s programme, boat rules and traffic plan a few days before the festival.
What Dev Deepawali is
Dev Deepawali means “the Diwali of the gods”. The story goes that on Kartik Purnima, Lord Shiva as Tripurari destroyed the three flying cities of the demon Tripurasura with a single arrow. The gods came down to Kashi to celebrate and lit lamps along the Ganga. That is why the day is also called Tripuri or Tripurari Purnima.
The festival closes the holy month of Kartik. Before dawn, pilgrims take the Kartik Purnima snan (holy dip) in the Ganga. At dusk, households, temples, ashrams and volunteers light diyas on every step of every ghat, and float leaf-boat lamps on the river. Over the last few years the state government has made the night a public festival. In 2025 more than ten lakh diyas were lit, and there was a laser show and green fireworks at Chet Singh Ghat.
The evening, hour by hour
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Before dawn
Kartik Purnima snan
Holy dip at Dashashwamedh, Panchganga and Assi. Very crowded from 4 AM.
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2:00 – 3:00 PM
Roads start closing
Vehicles are stopped further out than usual. Tourist cars and coaches stop at Benia Parking, and everyone walks from there.
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3:30 PM
Board your boat or take your place
Boats leave early to find a spot on the river. Ghat steps fill up hours before sunset.
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~5:10 PM
Sunset; the lamps are lit
Diyas are lit ghat by ghat in the twilight (pradosh kaal), until the whole riverfront glows.
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~6:00 PM
Maha Ganga Aarti
The grand aarti at Dashashwamedh, with many priests on the platforms. Ganga Seva Nidhi traditionally honours fallen soldiers at its Amar Jawan Jyoti on this evening.
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7:00 – 8:30 PM
Laser show & green fireworks
In recent years these have been held at Chet Singh Ghat. Check the year’s programme.
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After 9:00 PM
Walking back
Expect slow crowds in the lanes. Agree a meeting point with your group before you separate.
Where to watch from
Best view
From a boat
The only way to see the whole lit crescent at once. Book weeks ahead; boats are licensed and capacity-limited on this night.
Read moreMost famous
Dashashwamedh Ghat
The heart of the aarti and the densest crowd. Arrive two to three hours early, or watch from a boat moored in front.
More space
Rajendra Prasad & Ahilya Ghats
Next to Dashashwamedh, with a little more room to stand and an easier walk out.
Calmer
Assi & Tulsi Ghats
Fewer people and beautiful lamps. A good choice with children or elders.
Historic
Panchganga Ghat
Its old stone lamp tower (hazara deep) is lit with a thousand lamps.
Rooftops
Ghat-side hotels & cafés
Rooftop terraces give a seated view. They charge entry or a minimum spend on this night; reserve ahead.
Booking a boat for Dev Deepawali
Boats are the most sought-after thing in Kashi on this night. Regular rates do not apply.
- Our regular boat charges (₹2,600 for up to 5 people) are for normal dates only. Dev Deepawali boats are quoted separately, usually several times higher, and are confirmed against full payment.
- Choose by group size: a private rowing boat for 2–6, a motorboat for families, a large bajra (double-decker) for groups of 20–40.
- Expect to board around 3:30 – 4 PM and stay on the water for 3–4 hours. Boats may not be allowed to move once the river is crowded.
- Insist on life jackets for everyone, don’t overload, and stay seated.
- The administration may stop or limit boating at short notice for safety; your quote should say what happens then.
Heads up. Don’t pay touts on the ghats for a “last boat”. Book only with a licensed operator or through us, with the boat, route and timing written on your receipt.
Hotels, transport and access
- Book your hotel 2–3 months ahead. Ghat-side rooms sell out first. Every hotel has a special festival rate for Dev Deepawali; our partner hotels’ published tariffs are for regular dates only.
- Vehicles stop at Benia Parking. From there you walk to Kashi Vishwanath and the ghats. On Dev Deepawali the barriers move further out, so allow extra time.
- Hotels in no-vehicle zones on the river (for example BrijRama Palace and Guleria Kothi) handle transfers by boat. Check your check-in time, because the river is closed to new boats later in the evening.
- Plan arrival a day early. Flights and trains into Varanasi are full and expensive that week; arrive by 23 November.
- Darshan at Kashi Vishwanath is very crowded on Kartik Purnima. Sugam darshan and aarti tickets may be suspended. Go at dawn the next day if you can.
Tips for the night
Carry
- A light shawl or jacket for the evening (13 – 17°C on the river)
- Small notes and coins; card machines and mobile networks slow down in crowds
- A charged power bank and a phone torch
- Water and a light snack; food stalls get crowded
Remember
- Shoes with good grip; the steps get oily from lamps
- Your hotel’s name and nearest ghat written down on paper
- No flash near the aarti platforms
- For children: an ID card in their pocket with your phone number
Other festivals that fortnight
| Festival | 2026 date | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Diwali | Sun, 8 Nov | Across the city |
| Annakoot | Mon, 9 Nov | Annapurna Devi and Kashi Vishwanath |
| Nag Nathaiya | Early–mid Nov | Tulsi Ghat |
| Ganga Mahotsav | Around Dev Deepawali | Rajendra Prasad Ghat stage |
| Dev Deepawali | Tue, 24 Nov | All ghats, Ravidas to Raj Ghat |
Dates other than Diwali and Dev Deepawali are indicative; check locally.
Request a booking
Plan your Dev Deepawali
Tell us your dates and group size. We quote a boat, a hotel at the festival rate, and an arrival transfer from the airport or station to Benia Parking.
- English-speaking coordinator
- International numbers welcome
- No payment to enquire
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