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Dev Deepawali 2026 in Varanasi: Date, Timings, Boat Prices and How to See It on a Budget
On the full moon of Kartik, Varanasi lights its ghats with lakhs of clay lamps. Dev Deepawali 2026 falls on Tuesday 24 November. The best of it costs nothing: you walk the ghats. What costs money, and jumps in price, is a room and a seat on the river. Here is the date, the timings, what is planned, what things cost, and how to get through the crowds.
Photo: Sumita Roy Dutta, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Text added by Trip Under.
Short answer
Dev Deepawali 2026 is on Tuesday 24 November, the Kartik Purnima night (Drik Panchang). The lamps go up on the ghats after sunset: last year lighting began after 5:15 pm and the laser show at Chet Singh Ghat ran from 6:15 to 8:45 pm. For 2026 the tourism department has proposed over 11 lakh diyas across all 84 ghats, a laser show and green fireworks. Watching is free: walk the ghats from Assi to Raj Ghat. Boats and rooms are where the money goes. Last year evening boats went for ₹2,000–10,000 and budget hotels that usually charge ₹800 asked ₹8,000–10,000, so book a bed now or stay away from the ghats.
Dev Deepawali, the "Diwali of the gods", comes fifteen days after Diwali. Varanasi lines the river steps with clay lamps from end to end, the Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh gets its biggest night of the year, and the whole riverfront becomes one long walk of light. It is one of the most beautiful nights in India, and one of the most crowded.
How we put this together. The date is from Drik Panchang. The 2026 plans come from Varanasi news reports in October 2026, which call the laser show and fireworks "proposed". Where 2026 details are not out yet, such as road closures and boat rules, we show last year's, labelled, so you know what to expect. We found no official boat fare list for either year; the prices here are what newspapers reported.
Date and timings
| 2026 | 2025 (last year) | |
|---|---|---|
| Dev Deepawali | Tuesday 24 November | Wednesday 5 November |
| Purnima tithi | 23:42 on 23 Nov to 20:23 on 24 Nov | — |
| Lamp-lighting | After sunset; the pradosh deepdaan window is reported as 5:08–7:47 pm | Ghats lit after 5:15 pm |
| Laser and 3D show, Chet Singh Ghat | Planned (no timing yet) | 6:15–8:45 pm |
| Ganga Mahotsav (UP Tourism) | 20–23 November | 1–4 November, Rajghat and Namo Ghat, from 4 pm |
Be on the ghats by about 4:30 pm. Last year vehicles were stopped from the small hours and parking closed at 3 pm, and by dusk the steps near Dashashwamedh are packed.
What is planned for 2026
- Over 11 lakh diyas, about 1 lakh of them made from cow dung, across all 84 ghats, with ponds and kunds lit too (Tourism Department, reported by Amar Ujala, 3 Oct 2026).
- A 3D laser show at Chet Singh Ghat and other spots, and green fireworks. Both are described as proposed (Navbharat Live, 4 Oct 2026).
- Provincial-fair status for Dev Deepawali this year, which brings state money and arrangements (Amar Ujala, 3 Oct 2026).
- Last year for scale: about 25 lakh diyas were lit, 10 lakh by the administration and 15 lakh by local groups, and Dashashwamedh alone had 51,000 lamps and 21 quintals of flowers (PTI, 6 Nov 2025; Millennium Post, 4 Nov 2025).
Photo: Sumita Roy Dutta, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How to see it on a budget
- Walk the ghats. Incredible India's own advice is to walk from Assi Ghat to Raj Ghat to see the lamps. It is free and you see every ghat; from a boat you see them only from the water.
- Start at the south end. Begin around Assi in daylight and walk north as the lamps are lit, so you reach Dashashwamedh for the aarti and Chet Singh Ghat for the show.
- Watch the Ganga aarti from the steps. It is free to watch at Dashashwamedh. On this night the steps fill early, so pick your spot and stay put.
- Carry almost nothing. Cash, ID, water and a phone in a front pocket. You will not be able to get a vehicle anywhere near the river after dark.
- Skip the boat if money is tight. The river view is lovely, but the walk is the main event, and a seat on the water costs more than a week of hostel beds.
What it costs
| Item | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Walking the ghats, watching the aarti | Free | Incredible India; Trip Under (Kashi Vishwanath guide) |
| Kashi Vishwanath darshan | Free (Sugam Darshan ₹300) | Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust FAQ |
| A seat on an event boat (2026) | From about ₹5,000 per person | Patrika, 10 Oct 2026 |
| A whole evening boat (2025) | ₹2,000–10,000, fully booked | Millennium Post, 4 Nov 2025 |
| Sam Manekshaw cruise (2026) | ₹15,000 per passenger, sold out | Patrika, 10 Oct 2026 |
| Bajra (large wooden boat) (2026) | ₹15,000 to ₹2 lakh | Patrika, 10 Oct 2026 |
| Hostel dorm bed, a normal night | About ₹400–500 | Trip Under (Kashi Vishwanath guide) |
| Budget hotel on Dev Deepawali (2025) | ₹8,000–10,000 (usually ₹800) | Millennium Post, 4 Nov 2025 |
| UP Tourism package, 4 days / 3 nights (2026) | From ₹15,999 per person, twin sharing, plus GST | UPSTDC, reported by Amrit Vichar, 21 Oct 2026 |
The single biggest saving is the bed. Last year most hotels were full for 4–6 November. Book now, or stay a night either side and come in for the evening.
Boats: rules and what to expect
- Life jackets for everyone, boats only on fixed routes and never above their licensed capacity: the Police Commissioner's standing order (Amar Ujala, 4 May 2026).
- One-way river traffic. In 2024 boats ran from Namo Ghat to Assi Ghat and came back along the sand-bank side, with a floating divider mid-river; paddle and fishing boats were banned for the evening (Live VNS, 15 Nov 2024). Expect something similar.
- Boatmen must carry ID and a torch, rope and loud hailer (Live VNS, 9 Nov 2024). If a boat looks overloaded, do not get in.
- Book ahead or pay up. Cruises sold out by October 2026; about 10% of bajras were booked a month and a half early (Patrika, 10 Oct 2026).
Road closures and crowds on the day
The 2026 traffic plan had not been published when we checked. Last year (Amar Ujala, 5 Nov 2025):
- No vehicles from 1 am on Maidagin–Bulanala–Godaulia, Godaulia–Dashashwamedh, Broadway–Sonarpura–Godaulia, Laksa–Ramapura and the Assi and Ravidas Ghat stretches. Goods vehicles were barred after 5 am.
- About 30 parking lots, open until 3 pm, including Godaulia multilevel, Beniabagh, Town Hall, Lanka ground and Ramnagar. From there you walk.
- No drones: the city was a no-fly zone, with NDRF teams and water police on the river (PTI, 6 Nov 2025).
- Children and older people: fix a meeting point at a named ghat before dark, in case you get separated in the crowd.
Getting there
| Gateway | Then |
|---|---|
| Varanasi Junction (BSB) | Auto or e-rickshaw towards Godowlia, then walk. On the day itself, expect to walk much further. |
| Banaras (BSBS), Kashi (KEI), Varanasi City (BCY) | The other city stations; same plan. |
| Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction (DDU) | The big junction across the river, with many long-distance trains. |
| Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) | Road into the city. |
Where to stay
Budget travellers usually stay in the old-city lanes or near Assi Ghat: hostel dorm beds start around ₹400–500 a night and budget private rooms from about ₹1,000–2,500 in a normal week. Dev Deepawali is not a normal week. Book as early as you can, or stay a night before or after and come in for the evening only. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust runs two guesthouses, Gangadarshanam near Dashashwamedh Ghat and Southern Grand Kashi inside the corridor, booked on their own websites.
While you are in Varanasi
Kartik is one of Kashi Vishwanath's busiest months, so plan darshan for the day before or after and go at the 4 am opening. Our Kashi Vishwanath guide has the queue times, free lockers, the ₹300 Sugam Darshan and the aarti tickets.
Frequently asked questions
When is Dev Deepawali in 2026?
Tuesday 24 November 2026, on Kartik Purnima. The Purnima tithi runs from 23:42 on 23 November to 20:23 on 24 November (Drik Panchang).
What time are the lamps lit on Dev Deepawali?
After sunset. Last year the ghats were lit after 5:15 pm and the laser show at Chet Singh Ghat ran from 6:15 to 8:45 pm. The 2026 pradosh deepdaan window is reported as 5:08 to 7:47 pm.
How many diyas will be lit in 2026?
The tourism department has proposed over 11 lakh, about 1 lakh of them made from cow dung, across all 84 ghats (Amar Ujala, 3 Oct 2026). Last year about 25 lakh were lit in all, counting those lit by local groups.
Can I see Dev Deepawali for free?
Yes. Walk the ghats from Assi to Raj Ghat, as Incredible India suggests, and watch the Ganga aarti from the steps at Dashashwamedh. Only boats, cruises and rooms cost money.
How much is a boat ride on Dev Deepawali?
There is no official fare list. Last year evening boats went for ₹2,000 to ₹10,000 and were fully booked (Millennium Post, 4 Nov 2025). For 2026, event firms were selling seats at about ₹5,000 a person and the Sam Manekshaw cruise at ₹15,000 a passenger, already sold out (Patrika, 10 Oct 2026).
Are vehicles allowed near the ghats on Dev Deepawali?
Not last year. From 1 am on the day, roads into the ghat area, including Godaulia–Dashashwamedh and the Assi stretch, were closed to vehicles and parking lots shut at 3 pm (Amar Ujala, 5 Nov 2025). The 2026 plan was not out when we checked.
When is Ganga Mahotsav 2026?
20 to 23 November 2026, in the days before Dev Deepawali (Navbharat Live, 4 Oct 2026).
Sources and how we priced this
- Date: Drik Panchang, Dev Deepawali 2026 date and Purnima tithi (read 8 Nov 2026).
- 2026 plans and prices: Amar Ujala, 11 lakh diyas, laser show and fireworks (3 Oct 2026); Navbharat Live, ghat plan, Ganga Mahotsav and deepdaan timing (4 Oct 2026); Patrika, cruise and bajra bookings (10 Oct 2026); Amrit Vichar, UPSTDC Dev Deepawali package (21 Oct 2026); Amar Ujala, boat routes and life jackets (4 May 2026).
- 2025: PTI via ETV Bharat, 25 lakh diyas, timings, laser show and no-fly zone (6 Nov 2025); Millennium Post, hotel and boat prices (4 Nov 2025); Amar Ujala, traffic diversions and parking (5 Nov 2025); Indian Masterminds, Ganga Mahotsav 2025 (28 Oct 2025).
- Boat rules 2024: Live VNS (9 and 15 Nov 2024). Getting there: Incredible India, Dev Deepawali page. Stay, temple and free aarti: Trip Under's Kashi Vishwanath guide (Temple Trust FAQ, read 16 Oct 2026).
Keep reading
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