Dev Deepawali Varanasi 2026: Date, Muhurat and How to See It

Dev Deepawali in Varanasi is the night the city becomes a city of lamps: every ghat along the Ganga lit with diyas, the river full of boats, and the full moon of Kartik rising over it all. In 2026, Dev Deepawali in Varanasi falls on Tuesday 24 November, fifteen days after Diwali. This guide gives the date and muhurat, explains what the festival means, and shows how to plan a visit that your family will remember for the right reasons.

Dev Deepawali Varanasi 2026: date and muhurat

According to Drik Panchang's Dev Deepawali page for Varanasi:

The muhurat begins at sunset, which is when the lamps are lit along the ghats. That is why arriving by around 4 PM is sensible on the day: everything that matters happens from 5 PM onwards.

What Dev Deepawali means

Dev Deepawali means "the Diwali of the gods". The Wikipedia account of the festival describes it as the festival of Kartik Purnima celebrated in Varanasi, taking place fifteen days after Diwali, when "the gods are believed to descend to Earth to bathe in the Ganges".

Drik Panchang adds the second meaning: Dev Deepawali marks Lord Shiva's victory over the demon Tripurasura, which is why the day is also called Tripurari Purnima or Tripurotsav. The two ideas sit together — a night when the gods themselves celebrate, and a night of Shiva's triumph, in Shiva's own city.

The lamps on the ghats

On the evening of Dev Deepawali, the steps of the ghats along the Ganga are lit with lamps, from Ravidas Ghat at the southern end to Rajghat, and temples across the city are lit too. Wikipedia puts the number at more than a million earthen lamps.

The modern tradition is younger than many people think. According to the same account, the lamp-lighting on Dev Deepawali was first started at Dashashwamedh Ghat in 1991 by Pandit Kishori Raman Dubey, known as Babu Maharaj. From one ghat it spread to every ghat in the city.

Many devotees also do deepdan — offering a lamp of their own, set afloat on the river or placed on the ghat steps. It is the simplest way to take part, rather than only watch.

Thousands of people also come simply to photograph the lamps. That is understandable — it is one of the most beautiful sights in India — but for the families sitting beside you on the steps, this is worship. Keep clear of anyone performing a puja, avoid flash on people who are praying, and do not step over lamps or offerings to get a better angle.

Kartik Purnima: the morning of the festival

Dev Deepawali is also Kartik Purnima, one of the most important bathing days of the year. Drik Panchang notes that devotees take a holy dip in the Ganga on Kartik Purnima before lighting lamps in the evening.

That means the ghats are busy from dawn, not only in the evening. If your family wants to take the Kartik Purnima snan, go early — and remember that the steps down to the water are steep and often wet.

How to see it: steps, boat or rooftop

Boats. Seeing Dev Deepawali from the river is the image most people have in mind, and on this night the river is full. No official boat fares are published, and demand is enormous, so agree the fare, how long the boat will stay out, and where it will drop you — before you board.

Evening aarti. The Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh is especially grand on Dev Deepawali. Our guide to the Ganga Aarti at Varanasi explains the ghats and why the aarti follows sunset.

A timeline for the day

What to carry

• A lamp for deepdan, or buy one near the ghats in the afternoon.
• Water and a light snack. Food stalls near the ghats are overwhelmed.
• A warm layer. Late November evenings by the river turn cool.
• A small torch. The lanes behind the ghats are dim once you leave the lamps.
• As little else as possible. Crowds are dense, and there is nowhere to put things down.

Planning a family visit

Our guide to where to stay near Kashi Vishwanath covers the areas close to the ghats, which is where you want to be on this night. If you are also coming for Diwali, our Dhanteras and Diwali 2026 guide has the dates and muhurat for the earlier week.

With elderly parents. Dev Deepawali is magical and it is overwhelming. For older pilgrims, a rooftop view or a boat booked well in advance is far kinder than the ghat steps. Keep the evening short, bring a folding stool or cushion if they will be sitting for long, and plan the walk back before you set out. A MargKGB Buddy can stay with your parents through the crowds and get them back safely, and our verified contacts include stays and drivers in Varanasi, connecting you with them directly.

If you cannot be in Varanasi

Dev Deepawali can be marked from anywhere. Many families light a lamp at home on the evening of Kartik Purnima, at the time of sunset in their own city, and some offer a lamp at a nearby river or temple. If you would like a deepdan or a puja performed at the Ganga in your family's name, our puja and darshan services page explains how we arrange it with a verified pandit — book early, as the pandits of Varanasi are at their busiest on this day.

What to do next

Mark Tuesday 24 November 2026 and book your stay now — it is the hardest night of the year to find a room in Varanasi. Decide whether you want the steps, a boat or a rooftop, arrange it in advance, and plan to be in place by late afternoon. Take a lamp of your own for deepdan. Dev Deepawali in Varanasi is one of the great sights of India, and with a little planning, it can be one of the great nights of your family's life.