Varanasi · 24th November 2026 (Tuesday) — Kartik Purnima

Dev Diwali Itinerary 2026

Q: What date is Dev Diwali 2026?

Dev Diwali 2026 falls on 24th November 2026 (Tuesday) — Kartik Purnima — fifteen days after the main Diwali festival.

Q: Should I book my hotel and boat in advance?

Yes. Dev Diwali is Varanasi's busiest night of the year — hotels near the ghats and boat seats both fill up weeks in advance, especially for a Bajra (Maharaja) boat.

Q: Is it better to watch Dev Diwali from a boat or from the ghats?

A boat gives you the full view of all 84+ ghats lit up at once. Watching from the ghats is free and needs no advance booking, but gets extremely crowded and only shows you one or two ghats up close.

Q: Can I combine a Dev Diwali trip with Ayodhya or Prayagraj?

Yes — many travellers add a day or two either side for Ayodhya or Prayagraj, since both connect well to Varanasi by road.

Q: Is Dev Diwali different from the regular evening Ganga Aarti?

Yes. Dev Diwali is a once-a-year event when all 84+ ghats are lit with lamps at the same time, with added laser and fire shows, on top of the regular Ganga Aarti that happens every evening of the year.

Q: What should I wear or bring for Dev Diwali evening?

Warm layers — late-November evenings on the river get cold — plus comfortable shoes for crowded ghat walking if you're not taking a boat.

A day-by-day plan for the one night all 84+ ghats of Varanasi are lit at once — when to arrive, what to see, and how to watch it.

24th November 2026 (Tuesday) — Kartik Purnima

2–3 days ideal

Ghats of Varanasi

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84+ Ghats Lit at Once

Kartik Purnima, Once a Year

Varanasi Dev Diwali 2 Nights / 3 Days Itinerary

Experience the spiritual charm of Varanasi during Dev Diwali, when the ancient ghats come alive with thousands of diyas, Ganga Aarti, laser shows, fireworks, and a vibrant festive atmosphere.

This carefully planned 2 Nights / 3 Days Varanasi itinerary covers the city's most important temples, local food experiences, morning ghats, and the spectacular Dev Diwali celebrations along the Ganga.

1 Arrival · temples · food

Day 1 – Dev Diwali Itinerary: Arrival

Check into your hotel near the ghats, evening walk at Assi Ghat, regular Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh.

Explore Day 1

2 Festival night · 24 November

Day 2 – Dev Diwali Itinerary: 24 Nov

Morning boat or ghat walk, temple darshan, afternoon rest, then all 84+ ghats illuminated with laser & fire shows.

See the festival timeline

3 Flexible departure

Day 3 – Dev Diwali Itinerary: Optional

Sarnath day trip, or depart Varanasi carrying the one night the city outdoes itself.

View Day 3

For a straightforward read

Varanasi Dev Diwali 2 Nights / 3 Days Itinerary

Experience the spiritual charm of Varanasi during Dev Diwali, when the ancient ghats come alive with thousands of diyas, Ganga Aarti, laser shows, fireworks, and a vibrant festive atmosphere.

This carefully planned 2 Nights / 3 Days Varanasi itinerary covers the city's most important temples, local food experiences, morning ghats, and the spectacular Dev Diwali celebrations along the Ganga.

Day 1: Varanasi Temple Darshan & Local Food Experience

Arrival & Hotel Check-in

Arrive in Varanasi and check in at your hotel. After some rest and refreshments, get ready to explore the spiritual side of the city.

Visit Baba Kaal Bhairav Temple

Begin your temple tour with Baba Kaal Bhairav Temple, considered the guardian deity of Varanasi. Seek blessings and experience the unique spiritual atmosphere of this historic temple.

Visit Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Proceed to Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the most revered Shiva temples in India. Have Darshan of Baba Vishwanath and experience the spiritual energy of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor.

Visit Maa Annapurna Temple

Next, visit Maa Annapurna Temple, located close to Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Seek blessings from Maa Annapurna, who is traditionally associated with nourishment and abundance.

Visit Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple

Continue to Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, one of the most important Hanuman temples in Varanasi. Spend some peaceful time at the temple and seek blessings.

Explore Local Varanasi Food

No Varanasi trip is complete without experiencing its famous local flavours. Enjoy popular Varanasi breakfast and snacks such as:

Kachori Sabzi
Jalebi
Tamatar Chaat
Banarasi Chaat
Lassi
Banarasi Paan

Return to the hotel and relax.

Overnight Stay: Varanasi

Day 2: Ghats, Ganga Aarti & Dev Diwali Celebration

Morning Ghat Experience

Start your morning with a peaceful experience along the Ganga. Choose between:

Morning Boat Ride on the Ganges
Heritage Ghat Walk

Witness the morning rituals, devotees performing puja, temple bells, sadhus, and the timeless atmosphere of Varanasi's ghats. After breakfast, return to the hotel and spend some time relaxing.

Afternoon: Get Ready for Dev Diwali

Have lunch and prepare for the evening's Dev Diwali celebrations.

Important: Try to reach your designated check-in / entry point by 3:00 PM, as the city becomes increasingly crowded and traffic restrictions may be implemented during Dev Diwali.

From here, proceed towards the designated area for the evening celebrations.

6:30 PM – Ganga Aarti

Witness the spectacular Ganga Aarti, where priests perform the traditional evening prayers on the banks of the sacred Ganga. The chants, bells, lamps and thousands of devotees create an unforgettable spiritual experience.

Laser Show

After the Ganga Aarti, enjoy the Dev Diwali Laser Show, illuminating the evening sky and adding a spectacular visual experience to the celebrations.

Fireworks / Fire Show

Continue your evening with the magnificent Dev Diwali Fireworks & Fire Show. Watch the sky light up while the illuminated ghats create one of the most memorable sights of Varanasi.

Drop

After the celebrations, proceed for your scheduled drop-off.

Overnight Stay: Varanasi

Day 3: Departure from Varanasi

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and check out. Depending on your departure time, you may have some free time for shopping or a short local visit.

Proceed for your airport / railway station drop and continue your onward journey with unforgettable memories of Dev Diwali in Varanasi.

Highlights of the Experience

Baba Kaal Bhairav Temple Darshan
Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Darshan
Maa Annapurna Temple Darshan
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
Authentic Varanasi Breakfast & Local Snacks
Morning Ganga Boat Ride / Ghat Walk
Spectacular Ganga Aarti
Dev Diwali Laser Show
Dev Diwali Fireworks / Fire Show
Hassle-free Drop-off

Experience the Magic of Dev Diwali in Varanasi

From the spiritual energy of Kashi Vishwanath to the peaceful morning Ganga experience and the spectacular illumination of the ghats during Dev Diwali, this 2 Nights / 3 Days Varanasi itinerary is designed to give you a memorable experience of the spiritual capital of India.

Before you plan around it

Why This Dev Diwali Itinerary Is Built Around One Evening

Every other day in this itinerary is flexible — move a temple visit, skip Sarnath, sleep in. Day 2 evening isn't. Dev Deepawali happens once a year, on a fixed date, and it changes how the whole city runs: roads close near the ghats, hotels near Dashashwamedh sell out first, and boats fill up weeks ahead. Planning around that one evening, rather than fitting it into a normal city visit, is the difference between watching it comfortably and watching it from a crowd.

Kartik PurnimaFixed date, once a year

84 GhatsLit at the same time

Busiest NightOf Varanasi's calendar

That's why this itinerary front-loads temple darshan into Day 1 and Day 2 morning, keeps Day 2 afternoon deliberately empty, and treats the evening as the one fixed point everything else is scheduled around. For the legend and history behind the night itself, see the fuller story on our Dev Diwali boat booking page.

Illuminated ghats of Varanasi glowing with diyas on Dev Diwali night

One night, 84 ghats

Day 1 – Dev Diwali Itinerary