Dev Deepawali 2026 in Varanasi: Date, Timings & Travel Guide

Dev Deepawali 2026 falls on Tuesday, 24 November, the Kartik Purnima night when Varanasi lights lakhs of diyas on its ghats along the Ganga. If you are planning to be in Kashi for it, save you a lot of trouble to know a few things before hand. The Purnima tithi and deepdaan muhurat, aarti and laser show timings, the best ghats and boats to watch from, road closures, and the right day to arrive are the details that decide how your evening goes.

We are based in Varanasi, and our drivers work the city’s roads through every Dev Deepawali, so the travel tips here come from what our team sees on the ground, while the dates, timings and figures come from the panchang, official statements and news reports listed under Sources. You can hire a local taxi in Varanasi with Chiku Cab to comfortably enjoy the beauty of this city during the festive season

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What Is Dev Deepawali?

Dev Deepawali, or the Diwali of the Gods, is the festival Varanasi celebrates on Kartik Purnima, the full moon night of the Hindu month of Kartik. It falls on the first full moon after Diwali, and Kashi is the only city that celebrates it on this scale.

According to belief, the gods come down to Earth on this night to bathe in the Ganga and celebrate Lord Shiva’s victory over the demon Tripurasura. To welcome them, the people of Varanasi light lakhs of earthen diyas on the steps of the ghats, in temples, kunds and homes. The whole riverfront, from Ravidas Ghat in the south to Raj Ghat in the north, turns into a line of lamps that you can see best from a boat on the river.

Dev Deepawali 2026 Date and Timings

Dev Deepawali 2026 falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. The Kartik Purnima tithi begins at 11:42 PM on Monday, 23 November and ends at 8:23 PM on Tuesday, 24 November, so the whole evening of deepdaan on the 24th falls within Purnima.

This year, Dev Deepawali comes 16 days after Diwali, and Chhath Puja (13 to 16 November 2026) is celebrated on the same ghats eight days before it. You can plan both into one trip if you have the time.

The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department takes care of all the arrangements, making this event a GRAND Celebration in Varanasi. You can witness a range of cultural events and programmes for entertainment and learning in different parts of Varanasi during these festive seasons. Only celebrated in Varanasi, you cannot miss your trip to Varanasi during the Dev Deepawali celebrations. Timings: Rudra Centre panchang listing, Incredible India. The district administration announces the final programme a few weeks before the festival, so check the 2026 schedule before you travel.

• Take a Holy Dip in the Ganges on Kartik Purnima

It is believed that taking a bath in the Ganga River on this auspicious day purifies the soul. You can donate money to a charity or feed some stray dogs for spiritual merit.

• Ganga Aarti on Assi Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat

Watch the Ganga Aarti (6 PM onwards) from the ghats or the boat ride on the Ganges for a memorable moment during the Dev Deepawali celebrations.

• Floating Diyas on all the 84 Ghats

Starts at 6 PM, you can enjoy watching the shimmering and glimmering lights all over the ghats and the river.

• Chet Singh Ghat Laser Show near Shivala

Starts 7.30 PM onwards, you can enjoy a beautiful laser show at the Chet Singh Ghat, which is near Shivala and Harishchandra Ghats.

• Shri Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Laser Show at Lalita Ghat

Showcasing the culture and history of Varanasi, you can visit the Lalita Ghat for a mesmerising laser show from 7.45 and enjoy a great time with your loved ones. 

Dev Deepawali 2026 Evening Schedule on the Ghats

For 2026, the UP Tourism Department plans to light more than 11 lakh diyas on the ghats, ponds and kunds, including 1 lakh diyas made from cow dung, along with a laser show, green fireworks and facade lighting on the ghats. Add the diyas that ghat committees, temples and residents light, and the total goes much higher. , officials put the count at 25 lakh diyas.

History and Significance of Dev Diwali

Let’s now learn in detail about the story linked with the festival of Dev Deepawali, which is described in the following lines. 

Defeat of Tripurasura by Lord Shiva

Tripurasura - A trio of three brothers in the Asura (Demon) clan, whose names were Tarakaksha, Vidyunmali and Kamalaksha, got blessed by Lord Brahma to be all-powerful. However, Lord Shiva destroyed them on the Tripurari Purnima. As Banaras is believed to have been established by Lord Shiva himself as the oldest city in the world, the people of Varanasi are highly devoted to Lord Shiva. Since Mahadev defeated Tripurasura, the victory of the truth of virtue over the zest of evil is celebrated by lighting up millions of Diyas (lamps) in the ghats of Varanasi.

Enjoy beautiful, eco-friendly fireworks and hundreds of drones that fly in the night sky, as priests pray to Lord Shiva to celebrate the celestial event and to protect humanity with his divine protection. 

Adinath, the First Jain Tirthankara, Delivers His First Sermon on Kartika Purnima

The day of Kartik Purnima holds a special value in Jainism. Since Adinath (Rishabhdev) gave his first sermon to his followers, after sanctifying the Shatrunjay hills in Palitana. Hence, Jains start their pilgrimage to the Shatrunjay Hills on Kartik Purnima, marking the end of the chaturmas. The pilgrims often walk barefoot to climb the summit, while some visit Varanasi to the Parasvanath Temple, Bhelupur, Sri Suparshwanath Digambar Jain Mandir and the Janmabhoomi, all located near the ghats of Varanasi, near Bhelupur and Shivala. 

Things to Do in Varanasi on Dev Deepawali 2026

1. Take the Kartik Purnima snan. A dip in the Ganga before sunrise on 24 November is the main ritual of the day, followed by daan to the needy. The ghats fill up before first light, so stay inside the bathing areas the police mark out.
2. Watch the Maha Ganga Aarti. The Dev Deepawali aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat is the biggest of the evening, and Assi Ghat holds its own aarti too. If you want a spot on the steps, you have to reach in the afternoon.
3. See the laser show and green fireworks. The 3D light and laser show at Chet Singh Ghat tells the stories of Kashi, and the green fireworks go up from the sand bank opposite the Kashi Vishwanath Dham ghat. You get the clearest view of both from the river.
4. Take an evening boat ride. From the water, you see every lit ghat in one line, which no spot on land can give you. A small rowing boat suits couples, solo travellers and families, and you can also hire a musician to play on board.
5. Taste Malaiyo. This winter-only Banarasi sweet is made from milk left out overnight to catch the morning dew, then churned into foam with saffron and topped with dry fruits. Our team's picks are Mishra Malaiyo near Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Shreeji Sweets in Chaukhamba. Pair it with kachori sabzi for breakfast and tamatar chaat in the evening.
6. Go birdwatching on the Ganga. Migratory gulls, pintails and ruddy shelducks reach the river in winter, and a sunrise boat ride on 25 November gives you birds, quiet ghats and the diyas still lying on the steps.
7. Plan your Kashi Vishwanath darshan for another day. The temple and its corridor are lit up on Dev Deepawali, but the evening crowd is at its peak, so darshan on the morning of 23 or 25 November is easier.
8. Shop for Banarasi silk and crafts. Vishwanath Gali and Godowlia are lined with shops for Banarasi sarees, brassware and wooden toys.

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Best Places to Watch Dev Deepawali in Varanasi

A boat on the Ganga gives you the full riverfront in one view, and a ghat-side terrace is the next best choice. On the steps, each ghat shows you a different part of the evening.

Dev Deepawali Boat Ride Booking 2026

You can book a seat on a shared boat or hire a full boat as per your group size. Shared boat tickets for 24 November 2026 listed on District start from ₹3,999 per person, and a private rowing boat costs [fare] for the evening. Rates go up as the date gets closer, so lock your boat a few weeks ahead.

Before you pay, check these points with the operator:

• The boarding ghat and departure time, since operators on 24 November leave at a fixed time and cannot wait for late arrivals.
• Life jackets for every passenger. The district administration has made life jackets mandatory on boats in Varanasi, so wear yours for the whole ride, including photos.
• The number of passengers on the boat, so it is not overloaded.
• The refund rule, because most Dev Deepawali boat tickets are non-refundable.

How to Reach Varanasi for Dev Deepawali 2026

You can reach Varanasi by air, rail or road, and each option fills up in the week of Dev Deepawali. Since 24 November 2026 is also Guru Nanak Jayanti, many travellers will make a long weekend of 21 to 24 November, so book your tickets early.

• By air: Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) at Babatpur is 26 km from Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
• By rail: Varanasi Junction (BSB), Banaras (BSBS) and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction (DDU) connect the city to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and other major cities.
• By road: Varanasi is a short drive from most cities in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Getting Around Varanasi on Dev Deepawali

On the evening of Dev Deepawali, the traffic police stop vehicles from entering the ghat area, and you have to walk the last stretch to the river. The 2026 traffic and parking plan will come out from the district administration before the festival, so check it on the day you arrive.

We run local taxis, airport transfers and outstation cabs in Varanasi, and our drivers drop you at the closest point the police allow, such as Godowlia, Lanka or Maidagin, as per where you are headed. Apart from that, you can also book a cab for Sarnath or a day trip to Prayagraj on 25 November, once the city's roads open up again.

Dev Deepawali Tips for First-Time Visitors

Varanasi takes in lakhs of visitors in one evening. These are the things that make the biggest difference on your first Dev Deepawali.

• Arrive on 23 November. You get a quieter evening on the ghats to find your way around, and you avoid the road closures on the 24th. Leave on the 25th or 26th, once the crowd thins out.
• Book your hotel, boat and cab together. Rooms near the ghats, boat seats and cabs are booked out first in the festival week, and rates rise as the date comes closer.
• Reach the ghats in the afternoon. The steps of Dashashwamedh, Assi and the Kashi Vishwanath Dham ghat fill up well before sunset, and the police close some entry points once a ghat is full.
• Fix a meeting point for your group. Mobile networks slow down in the crowd. Save your hotel address and boarding ghat offline, and put a contact number in the pocket of every child and elderly person in your group.
• Keep valuables to a minimum. Carry a small bag, keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket, and leave jewellery at the hotel.
• Wear your life jacket and stay off the edge. Keep your life jacket on for the whole boat ride, and do not step into the river at night to place a diya.
• Dress modestly. Covered shoulders and knees are the norm at temples and on the ghats, for both men and women.
• Carry a shawl or light jacket. Evenings on the river turn cold in late November.
• Leave the drone at home. Drone flying was restricted across the city on Dev Deepawali 2025, and the 2026 rules will come from the district administration.
• Keep the river clean. Use earthen diyas for your deepdaan, and take plastic, flowers in polythene and food wrappers back with you.

FAQs on Dev Deepawali 2026

When is Dev Deepawali 2026 in Varanasi?

Dev Deepawali 2026 is on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. The Kartik Purnima tithi runs from 11:42 PM on 23 November to 8:23 PM on 24 November.

What is the deepdaan muhurat for Dev Deepawali 2026?

The Pradosh Kaal muhurat in Varanasi is 5:08 PM to 7:47 PM on 24 November 2026. In 2025, the diyas on the ghats were lit after 5:15 PM.

When is Diwali in 2026?

Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is on Sunday, 8 November 2026, and Dhanteras is on Friday, 6 November. Dev Deepawali comes 16 days after Diwali this year.

Is Dev Deepawali the same as Diwali?

No. Diwali falls on Kartik Amavasya and honours Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya. Dev Deepawali falls on Kartik Purnima and marks Lord Shiva's victory over Tripurasura, and Varanasi is where it is celebrated on the ghats.

Do I need a ticket to watch Dev Deepawali?

No. The ghats, the aarti, the laser show at Chet Singh Ghat and the fireworks are open to everyone. You pay only for a boat ride, a hotel terrace or a guided tour.

Can I fly a drone during Dev Deepawali?

No. In 2025, the administration declared Varanasi a no-fly zone for Dev Deepawali and restricted drone operations. Expect the same for 2026 unless the district administration says otherwise.

Can cars reach the ghats on Dev Deepawali?

No. Vehicles are stopped short of the ghat area on the evening of Dev Deepawali, and you have to walk the last stretch. Plan your drop point with your driver in advance.

How far is Varanasi airport from the ghats?

Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport at Babatpur is 26 km from Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple. We run airport pickups and drops on the festival days, and our drivers know the diversions around the ghats.

Is Dev Deepawali worth visiting?

Yes. In 2025, 25 lakh diyas lit up the ghats, and Kashi is the only city where you can see Kartik Purnima celebrated on this scale. Plan for the crowd, book early, and the evening on the Ganga is one you will remember.

Abhishek Singh

I’m a wanderer who loves venturing on to unknown and unseen places. I explore freely to various fun and adventurous places, whether it be spiritual temple tours, captivating landscapes, and more. I wonder around in search of hidden gems and tourist attractions, temples, and other places.