Everything you need to know about when Dev Deepawali falls this year and how the evening unfolds on the ghats.
Dev Diwali, also known as Dev Deepawali, is celebrated every year on Kartik Purnima — the full moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik, exactly fifteen days after the main Diwali festival. In 2026, this falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026.
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Festival | Dev Diwali / Dev Deepawali (Kartik Purnima) |
| Date | Tuesday, 24 November 2026 |
| Boat boarding begins | 04:30 PM onwards |
| Ganga Aarti & illumination peak | Approx. 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM |
| Fireworks & laser show | Post Aarti, typically 7:30 PM onwards |
| Boarding point | Namo Ghat, Rajghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001 |
Dev Diwali follows the Hindu lunar calendar, so its Gregorian date shifts annually. It always lands on the full moon (Purnima) night of Kartik month, roughly in November. Always double-check the exact date closer to the season, since Panchang calculations can occasionally shift by a day.
As dusk sets in, volunteers and residents begin lighting lamps along all 84 ghats, starting typically from Assi Ghat down to Rajghat. By early evening, the entire riverfront glows with millions of diyas. The main Ganga Aarti — a grander, more elaborate version of the daily aarti — is performed at Dashashwamedh Ghat and a few other key ghats simultaneously, accompanied by Vedic chants, conch shells and ceremonial fire lamps (large brass lamps swung in unison by priests).
Once the Aarti concludes, the sky lights up with fireworks, and several ghats also host laser and projection shows that narrate mythological stories, including the legend of Lord Shiva's victory over the demon Tripurasura.
Because the ghats get extremely crowded and several are barricaded for VIP and security arrangements, watching the illumination, Aarti and fireworks from a boat on the Ganga lets you experience the entire schedule without missing any part of it — you simply float past each highlight at your own pace.
Tip: Reach the boarding point at least 30-45 minutes before your scheduled departure time — Varanasi's roads near the ghats get very congested from mid-afternoon on Dev Diwali.
Ready to book your spot on the river? Compare our boat packages, or read our guide on the best ghats to watch from a boat.
Reporting: Namo Ghat, Rajghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001 | 04:30 PM onwards | Starting ₹2,999/person