Varanasi · Kartik Purnima 2026
Dev Diwali — also called Dev Deepawali, the “Diwali of the Gods” — is the night all 84 ghats of Varanasi glow with diyas. Everything you need is here in one place: the date, the story, the Ganga Aarti, the laser and fire shows, and the best way to watch.
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One night, three unforgettable views
The basics
Dev Diwali (also spelled Dev Deepawali) means “the Diwali of the Gods”. It is celebrated in Varanasi — Kashi — on Kartik Purnima, the full-moon night about fifteen days after the main Diwali festival. In 2026 it falls on 24th November 2026 (Tuesday) — Kartik Purnima.
On this one night, every ghat along the Ganga — from Assi Ghat to Raj Ghat — is lined with thousands of oil lamps. The evening Ganga Aarti grows bigger, laser and fire shows light up the riverfront, and the steps glow gold. Kashi never looks quite like this on any other night of the year.
| Festival | Dev Diwali / Dev Deepawali — the “Diwali of the Gods” |
|---|---|
| Date | 24th November 2026 (Tuesday) — Kartik Purnima |
| Where | The ghats of Varanasi (Kashi), Uttar Pradesh — Assi Ghat to Raj Ghat |
| What happens | 84 ghats lit with diyas, a scaled-up Ganga Aarti, a laser show and a fire show |
| Evening window | Roughly 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM (approximate — set by UP Tourism) |
| Best way to watch | From a boat on the Ganga |
| Cost to watch | Free from the ghats · shared boat seats from ₹3,999 per person |
| Book ahead? | Yes — boats and hotels near the ghats fill up weeks in advance |
The story behind the lamps
The short version, in three parts.
According to legend, this is the night the gods came down to Varanasi to bathe in the Ganga and celebrate Lord Shiva’s victory over the demon Tripurasura. The lamps that line the ghats today mark that celebration.
The festival is timed to the full moon of the Hindu month of Kartik, about fifteen days after Diwali. Kartik Purnima is also traditionally a day for bathing in the Ganga.
Diwali falls on the new-moon night and marks Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya. Dev Diwali is the gods’ own festival, on the full-moon night that follows — and Varanasi’s ghats are where it is marked most spectacularly.
Plan your evening
Dev Diwali 2026 is on 24th November 2026 (Tuesday) — Kartik Purnima. Here is how a typical boat evening runs.
| Time (approx.) | What happens |
|---|---|
| Morning | Optional boat ride or heritage ghat walk before the crowds build. Visit temples early — queues at Kashi Vishwanath build well before midday. |
| By 3:00 PM | Reach your designated entry point. The city gets crowded and traffic restrictions may be in force around the ghats. |
| 4:00 PM | Boat reporting at Ravidas Ghat, Nagwa, Varanasi. Late arrivals can’t be accommodated. |
| 5:00 PM | Boats depart for a ride of about 3 to 3.5 hours along the illuminated ghats. |
| Around 6:30 PM | Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, with smaller aartis at other ghats. |
| After the Aarti | Laser show — Chet Singh Ghat and Lalita Ghat are regular venues. |
| Later that evening | Fire show finale, with all 84 ghats glowing with diyas. |
| Around 8:00 PM | Boat returns to the reporting ghat. |
All times are approximate. The Ganga Aarti, laser show and fire show are organised by UP Tourism and local temple committees, not by Kashi Yatra, so exact timing can shift. We share the latest details when you book.
Want the latest timings and reporting details?
Ask on WhatsAppWhat you’ll see
Four things make the night. Each has its own guide if you want the detail.
Assi Ghat to Raj Ghat
Thousands of oil lamps line every ghat and turn the riverfront gold. From the middle of the Ganga you can take in the full stretch at once.
Read the 84 ghats guide
Dashashwamedh Ghat
The daily evening aarti scales up: larger fire lamps, more priests and music, with smaller aartis at other ghats at the same time.
Read the Ganga Aarti guide
Chet Singh & Lalita Ghat
Light beams sweep across the ghats and reflect off the river — best seen from the water, without fighting for a spot on the steps.
Read the laser show guide
Along the ghats
Fire performers add one more layer to the night, set against thousands of diyas. A boat keeps you at a comfortable distance from the flames.
Read the fire show guideWhere to go
The celebration runs along the whole riverfront, but a few ghats are worth knowing by name.
| Ghat | What to expect on Dev Diwali night |
|---|---|
| Assi Ghat to Raj Ghat | The full stretch of 84 ghats is lined with diyas, and is seen best in one sweep from a boat. 84 ghats diya illumination |
| Dashashwamedh Ghat | Home of the main Ganga Aarti, and the most crowded ghat of the night — the steps are packed well before the ceremony starts. Ganga Aarti on Dev Diwali · Dashashwamedh Ghat aarti time |
| Chet Singh Ghat & Lalita Ghat | Regular venues for the laser and light-and-sound shows; venues can change from year to year. Dev Diwali laser show |
| Ravidas Ghat, Nagwa | Reporting point for Kashi Yatra’s Dev Diwali boats (4:00 PM). It gets busy on the night, so arrive early and use a cab or auto to get close. Boat booking details |
Want to know more about the riverfront itself? Read our guide to the 84 ghats of Varanasi.
The one big decision
Both work. Here is the honest trade-off.
| By BoatRecommended for first-timers | From the Ghats | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Paid, from ₹3,999/person | Free |
| View | All 84 ghats at once, from the river | One or two ghats, up close |
| Crowd | Comfortable, seated | Very dense, standing |
| Booking | Needed well in advance | None needed |
| Best for | First-timers wanting the full spectacle | Budget travellers, spontaneous plans |
| See Boat Packages |
Choose your place on the river
All three are shared, per-seat boats. Compare price, group size and inclusions, then message us to confirm availability.
₹3,999 /person
Choose this if Budget-conscious travellers
Due to boat rush, may not be parked directly at Dashashwamedh Ghat for Ganga Aarti.
Check availability on WhatsApp View full Normal Motor Boat details
₹5,999 /person
Choose this if Smaller shared groups
Due to boat rush, may not be parked directly at Dashashwamedh Ghat for Ganga Aarti.
Check availability on WhatsApp View full Light Motor Boat details
₹12,999 /person
Choose this if Groups wanting the fullest experience
Prices can increase with demand and booking date. We confirm the current price and seat availability on WhatsApp. All boat bookings are strictly non-refundable.
Plan your stay
Temples and food on Day 1, the festival on Day 2, and a relaxed departure on Day 3. Every other day is flexible — the Dev Diwali evening is the one fixed point.
Before you go
The practical things worth sorting out early.
By air, Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) is about 45 minutes from the ghats. By train, Varanasi Junction (Cantt) and Manduadih/Banaras stations connect well to the rest of India. We can arrange airport pickup and drop — traffic is heavier from midday on the 24th, so build in extra time.
Rooms near the ghats sell out weeks ahead of Dev Diwali, and roads close around the ghats on the night, so being within walking distance is worth it. Try our hotel near the ghat in Varanasi or a homestay in Varanasi.
The atmosphere on the ghats
From diyas on the riverbank to the shows unfolding across the water.
See it for yourself
A short look at the ghats, the boats and the lights, from last year’s celebration.
Quick answers
About Dev Diwali
Dev Diwali, also called Dev Deepawali, is the “Diwali of the Gods”. It is celebrated in Varanasi on Kartik Purnima, when every ghat along the Ganga is lined with thousands of diyas and the evening Ganga Aarti, laser show and fire show light up the riverfront.
Timings & Shows
The evening programme roughly runs from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with the Ganga Aarti around 6:30 PM followed by the laser and fire shows. These times are approximate — see the Dev Diwali Ganga Aarti guide.
Watching & Booking
From a boat on the Ganga. You see all 84 ghats at once and watch seated, away from the ghat crowds. Watching from the ghats is free but very dense, and shows you only one or two ghats up close. Compare boats on our Dev Diwali boat booking 2026 page.
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Dev Diwali 2026 · Varanasi
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