Ghats of Varanasi host Dev Deepawali on 24 November

Ghats of Varanasi (Ganga Ghat) will host Dev Deepawali on 24 November 2026, bringing the Hindu festival of lights to the riverfront in Varanasi, India. The date and venue are listed by Uttar Pradesh Tourism on the national tourism portal.

Dev Deepawali brings millions of lamps to the ghats

Dev Deepawali is celebrated on Kartik Purnima, the full moon associated with the festival. The official tourism listing describes the occasion as a celebration linked to the belief that the gods descend to the Ganga, while the ghats are illuminated with millions of earthen lamps.

The programme described by the tourism authority combines lamp lighting with prayers, sacred rituals, Ganga Aarti, classical music, traditional dance and folk arts. The riverfront is therefore both the setting and the substance of the event, rather than a backdrop for a separate city celebration. The official Dev Deepawali listing names Varanasi as the venue and 24 November 2026 as the date.

The tourism description also connects the festival with the story of Lord Shiva's victory over Tripurasura. Visitors will find the most prominent activity along the Ganga, where the illuminated steps, religious ceremonies and reflections on the water form one continuous festival landscape.

Riverfront steps connect ritual, history and travel

The district administration describes the ghats as riverfront steps leading to the Ganges. It records 88 ghats in the city, with most used for bathing and puja ceremonies, while two are reserved exclusively for cremation.

Many of the present ghats were rebuilt after 1700, when Varanasi was part of the Maratha Empire. Their patrons included Marathas, Shindes, Holkars, Bhonsles and Peshwas. This layered history gives the 24 November celebration a setting shaped by religious practice, urban rebuilding and river access over several centuries. The district guide to Ganga Ghat also identifies morning boat rides across the riverfront as a visitor activity.

Named locations add different meanings to the wider site. Dashashwamedh Ghat is associated with the evening Ganga Aarti, Assi Ghat marks the southern end where the Assi River meets the Ganga, and Manikarnika Ghat remains a cremation site. These functions continue alongside the festival lighting.

Visiting Ghats of Varanasi: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Dev Deepawali takes place on 24 November 2026 across the riverfront ghats of Varanasi, with millions of earthen lamps, rituals and cultural performances.
• The official tourism information presents the ghats as an open riverfront setting that can be experienced on foot or from a boat on the Ganga; it does not list a separate festival entrance.
• Varanasi airport and Varanasi Junction are listed as transport links for the city, while the district guide says taxis can be hired from the railway station.
• The site consists of stone riverfront steps, bathing areas and cremation ghats, so routes vary between individual sections and visitors should take care around the river edge.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Ghats of Varanasi

When does Dev Deepawali take place at Ghats of Varanasi?

Dev Deepawali takes place on 24 November 2026. Uttar Pradesh Tourism lists Varanasi as the venue.

What is Ghats of Varanasi?

They are riverfront steps beside the Ganges in Varanasi. The district records 88 ghats, used mainly for bathing and puja ceremonies.

Where are Ghats of Varanasi and how do you get there?

The ghats line the Ganga in Varanasi. The city is served by Varanasi airport and Varanasi Junction, from where the district guide says taxis can be hired.