Dev Diwali is one of the most celebrated festivals in Varanasi and across North India. What began as a humble ritual at the quiet Panchganga Ghat has now evolved into a citywide spectacle. At its heart, it remains a simple and deeply spiritual offering of light to the gods, but zoom out, and you’ll witness a breathtaking extravaganza of faith, fire, and festivity.
In recent years, the festival has received a significant boost in scale and visibility. With the involvement of the current government and tourism authorities, Dev Diwali has been positioned as a flagship event promoting religious and cultural tourism in Varanasi. Massive infrastructure support, coordinated light displays across over 80 ghats, and high-profile visits have brought national attention to what remains, at its core, a deeply personal act of faith.
The Origin at Panchganga Ghat
Long before it became a citywide phenomenon, Dev Diwali began quietly. According to tradition, it’s believed that on this night, the full moon of Kartik, the gods descend to bathe in the Ganga. At Panchganga Ghat, devotees began lighting earthen lamps to honour this celestial visit and pay homage to their ancestors. The ritual of Akashdeep, where towering bamboo poles with diya-filled baskets are set up along the ghat, is a rare sight preserved even today.
The Festival Today
Step onto the ghats during Dev Diwali today, and you’re stepping into a mythic dream. Over 80 ghats are lit with thousands of diyas, temples shimmer with LED outlines, fireworks light up the night sky, and processions bring centuries-old stories to life. Streets buzz with energy, filled with music, food, and pilgrims from across India and beyond.
Behind the Scenes of the Spectacle
The transformation of Dev Diwali into a mega event is not accidental. The local administration, in collaboration with tourism bodies and volunteer groups, begins preparations weeks in advance. There’s careful coordination, from diya arrangements to traffic control, security, cultural programs, and drone light shows. What you see is not just devotion, but design.
The Spiritual Core Amid the Spectacle
Despite the grand visuals, many locals still observe Dev Diwali with quiet reverence – fasting, lighting diyas at home or on the riverbanks, and remembering departed loved ones. The rituals of bathing in the Ganga at dawn, offering prayers to Shiva, and lighting lamps at family shrines remain untouched by the pageantry.
Fireworks, Laser Shows & Projections
If the glowing ghats are the soul of Dev Diwali, then the skies above Varanasi are its beating heart on this night.
As darkness falls, the city bursts into celebration with synchronised fireworks that light up the sky above the Ganga. From rooftops and boats, visitors watch in awe as colours explode over the river, each burst reflected on the water like a divine mirror.
But it doesn’t stop at fireworks.
In recent years, the festival has embraced modern technology to match its ancient traditions. Laser shows now beam across the riverbanks, painting stories of gods, legends, and Banaras itself onto the night. 3D projection transforms historic structures, such as the façade of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor or nearby heritage buildings, into luminous canvases, with mythological tales and cultural narratives unfolding in light.
These additions are more than just entertainment—they’re part of a conscious effort to make the spiritual legacy of Varanasi more visible, immersive, and inclusive. For first-time visitors, it’s spellbinding. For locals, it’s pride glowing in pixels and flame.
Dev Diwali Heritage Walks & Boat Rides
While the city dazzles with light, the true magic of Dev Diwali is often felt in motion, walking its ancient streets or gliding gently on the Ganga.
Heritage walk during this time offers a rare glimpse into the soul of Varanasi. Led by local storytellers, these walks take you through labyrinthine alleys, past shrines hidden in plain sight, and into courtyards where centuries of devotion whisper from every wall. You’ll hear the origin stories of Dev Diwali, witness Akashdeep rituals at Panchganga Ghat, and visit places like Alamgir Mosque or Bindu Madhav Temple that hold layers of spiritual and cultural history.
Equally unforgettable are the Dev Diwali Boat Rides, especially in the evening. As you float along the river, from Assi Ghat to Raj Ghat or beyond, you’ll witness over 80 ghats lit up with shimmering diyas, each glowing like a heartbeat in the night. Some boats offer live music, traditional chanting, or simply silent awe under the stars. For photographers and seekers alike, there’s nothing quite like seeing the reflections of a thousand flames ripple across the water.
Whether you walk or sail, you don’t just see Dev Diwali, you feel it.
