Dev Diwali or Dev Deepawali is one of the most celebrated festivals in Varanasi. It is celebrated on Kartik Poornima, 15 days after Diwali – the festival of lights. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on 24th November 2026.
On Dev Diwali, the Ghats of Varanasi come alive with millions of diyas (earthen lamps) and thousands of visitors from all over the world. All the Ghats from Ravidas to Raj Ghat and their stairs appear glittering and shining like a stairway to heaven.
The water of the Ganga reflects the light of the beautiful full moon while boats move to leave the trail of diyas behind. It is an ineffable sight that can only be experienced by being there and witnessing it.
And below are the six reasons why we think you should not miss it!
Quick Facts: Dev Diwali 2026
Date: Monday, 24th November 2026 (Kartik Poornima)
What it is: The festival when the Gods are believed to descend to Varanasi’s ghats, marked by millions of diyas lit along the riverfront
Where to watch: Any ghat from Assi Ghat to Raj Ghat, though the stretch near Dashashwamedh and Kedar Ghat sees the biggest crowds
Best way to experience it: An evening boat ride on the Ganga, when the ghats and their reflections light up together
Best time to arrive: Late afternoon, to get settled before the lamps are lit at dusk
And below are the six reasons why we think you should not miss it!
1. It is Grand
When we say grand, we truly mean it!
The preparations begin days in advance, yet the magic of Dev Diwali shines brightest for just a few hours on Kartik Poornima evening. The sheer scale – thousands of people, rituals, and countless lamps- is impossible to take in all at once.
To put it in perspective: on a normal evening, the ghats of Varanasi are already busy. On Dev Diwali, every single ghat, from Assi to Raj Ghat, a stretch of nearly seven kilometres, is lined with lamps, almost a million of them by some counts. Add to that the crowds, the chanting, the music, and the boats drifting past with their own trails of light, and you get a scale that photographs and videos simply cannot capture. You have to stand there and feel it.
2. The City Comes Alive
The celebrations in Banaras reach their peak during Dev Diwali!
The energy builds through the day. By late afternoon, the ghats are already filling up, with families setting up their diyas in neat rows along the steps, vendors selling flowers and lamps, and priests preparing for the evening rituals. As dusk falls, the chanting from Dashashwamedh Ghat’s Ganga Aarti carries across the river, and one by one, the ghats light up in sequence, until the entire riverfront glows.
Devotees from across India and abroad come to the ghats to perform rituals on Kartik Poornima. It’s the perfect opportunity to witness the diverse cultural and spiritual essence of India in one place.
3. Best Season To Visit Varanasi
Winter is, without doubt, the best season to experience Varanasi.
Cold mornings, sunny afternoons, and a mystical layer of mist over the Ganga make the riverfront look surreal. The spiritual rituals performed in this backdrop feel timeless and otherworldly.
Late November temperatures in Varanasi typically range from around 12°C in the early morning to a pleasant 25°C by afternoon, so layers are your best friend. Mornings are when the city is at its most photogenic, with mist rising off the Ganga and the ghats slowly waking up. If Dev Diwali is your reason for visiting, it’s worth building in an extra day or two around it, since the days before and after are far quieter and give you a different, calmer side of the same riverfront.
4. Evening Boat Rides
On Dev Diwali, it is believed that the Gods themselves descend to bathe in the Ganga. To welcome them, the ghats are illuminated with millions of diyas.
When you witness this from a boat, the reflection on the water makes the ghats appear like a celestial stairway to heaven. It is one of the most magical experiences Varanasi has to offer.
Boats begin queuing well before sunset, so if you’re planning to be on the water for Dev Diwali, an early start matters. Most boats position themselves between Assi Ghat and Dashashwamedh Ghat, which gives you the widest view of the lit-up shoreline as well as the Ganga Aarti happening on the bank. The ride itself usually lasts a couple of hours, drifting slowly with the current, and the best moment tends to come just after the sun sets, when the diyas on the ghats and the diyas floating on the water start to blend together.
5. Migratory Birds
Winter also brings a feathered gift to Varanasi – migratory birds.
From northern pintails and bar-headed geese to reddish shelducks and cormorants, these birds travel thousands of miles to grace the Ganga. Photographers and nature lovers flock here to capture their beauty as they soar over the river.
The birds typically start arriving from late October and stay through February, so by the time Dev Diwali comes around, the river is already busy with them. Early morning, just after sunrise, is the best window for spotting them, particularly around the quieter ghats like Assi and Tulsi, away from the main crowds. If you’re travelling with a long lens, a boat ride at this hour is worth doing on its own, separate from the evening Dev Diwali ride.
And even if birdwatching isn’t your thing, sipping hot tea on a misty morning boat ride is an experience you’ll never forget. Don’t forget your camera 😉
6. Malaiyo
Malaiyo is a local winter delicacy made from raw milk and dew drops. Yes, you read it right, dew drops! In winter one can find it everywhere in Varanasi but if you want to taste the real one then you will have to go deep into the streets around the Chowk area. The most famous one is the Shree ji Malaiyo which is in the Thatheri Bazaar near Gopal Mandir and is only available until 11 AM. It’s lip-smacking and delicious!
Malaiyo is strictly a cold-weather thing. It’s made by leaving milk out overnight to collect dew, then whisking it into a light, airy foam the next morning, which is why it only exists for a few months a year and is usually gone by late morning once the day warms up. If you’re in the city for Dev Diwali, the morning after is actually a good time to go looking for it, once the festival crowds have thinned and the streets around Chowk are back to their usual rhythm.
We wanted to keep this list short that’s why we didn’t put everything here. Otherwise, there are so many offbeat places to see and so many cool places to eat street food in Varanasi. Join us on a Dev Diwali special heritage walk on 24th November to unlock the secrets of Varanasi.
If you’d like to know more about Dev Diwali and its history then read Dev Deepawali when gods descend to heart.
Also read: Dev Deepawali Varanasi Travel Guide & Itinerary
When is Dev Diwali 2026?
Dev Diwali 2026 falls on Monday, 24th November, fifteen days after Diwali, on the full moon night of Kartik Poornima.
What is Dev Diwali?
Dev Diwali, or Dev Deepawali, is a festival unique to Varanasi when the Gods are believed to descend to bathe in the Ganga. The ghats are lit with millions of diyas to welcome them, turning the riverfront into a glowing stairway along the river.
Where is the best place to watch Dev Diwali in Varanasi?
The ghats from Assi Ghat to Raj Ghat are all lit up, but the busiest and most dramatic views are around Dashashwamedh Ghat and Kedar Ghat. For a calmer view with the full sweep of the lights, a boat on the river gives the best perspective.
How do I book a boat for Dev Diwali?
You can book a Dev Diwali boat ride directly through Varanasi Guru, with options ranging from shared seats to private boats for groups and celebrations.
