Festival dates change every year with the lunar calendar. Check the exact date for your year before booking, and expect hotel prices to rise sharply around major festivals.
The big ones
Kartik Purnima · Nov
Dev Deepawali
Fifteen days after Diwali, the ghats are lit with lakhs of diyas — “the Diwali of the gods”. The most spectacular night of the year. Book boats and hotels months ahead.
Feb / Mar
Mahashivratri
Shiva’s great night. The temple stays open through the night with special rituals and enormous crowds. Sugam darshan and aarti bookings may be suspended.
Jul – Aug
Shravan month
The holy month of Shiva. Kanwariyas carry Ganga jal; Mondays bring the longest queues of the year.
Mar
Rangbhari Ekadashi & Holi
Baba Vishwanath’s “gauna” procession opens Kashi’s Holi. Masane ki Holi, played with ash at Manikarnika, follows. Intense crowds — keep valuables minimal.
Through the year
| Festival | Month | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Makar Sankranti | January | Holy dip; kite flying across the city |
| Mahashivratri | Feb / Mar | All-night worship at Kashi Vishwanath |
| Rangbhari Ekadashi, Holi | March | Procession of Baba Vishwanath; colours |
| Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh | April | Nights of classical music at Sankat Mochan temple |
| Ganga Dussehra | May / June | Celebrating the Ganga’s descent; special aartis |
| Shravan Mondays | July – August | Peak Shiva worship; very long queues |
| Navratri & Dussehra | Sep / Oct | Durga puja pandals; Ramnagar Ramlila (a month-long tradition) |
| Bharat Milap (Nati Imli) | Oct | A beloved Ramlila tableau attended by huge crowds |
| Diwali & Annakoot | Oct / Nov | Annapurna temple’s Annakoot display of food offerings |
| Nag Nathaiya (Tulsi Ghat) | Oct / Nov | Re-enactment of Krishna subduing Kaliya in the Ganga |
| Dev Deepawali & Ganga Mahotsav | November | Ghats lit with diyas; cultural festival |
Planning around festivals
- For Dev Deepawali, book your hotel and a boat for the evening 2–3 months ahead.
- On Mahashivratri and Shravan Mondays, allow a full day for darshan or choose a different day.
- Roads near Godowlia close to vehicles on big festival days — be ready to walk.
- If you want calm, go in the weeks just before or after a major festival.