Dev Deepawali 2026 will be celebrated in Varanasi on Tuesday, 24 November 2026, the night of Kartik Purnima, fifteen days after Diwali. As reported on 7 October 2026, the Uttar Pradesh government plans to light more than 11 lakh earthen diyas on the Ganga ghats and at ponds and kunds across the city, with nearly one lakh of them made from cow dung. The state tourism department will light the ghats, and the state is also planning a laser show and green fireworks.
Key timings for 24 November 2026
| Item | Time (Varanasi) |
|---|---|
| Kartik Purnima tithi begins | 11:42 pm, Monday 23 November |
| Kartik Purnima tithi ends | 8:23 pm, Tuesday 24 November |
| Pradosh Kaal (lamp-lighting muhurat) | 5:08 pm to 7:47 pm, 24 November |
Timings are from the Drik Panchang calendar for Varanasi. Kartik Purnima snan in the Ganga is taken at dawn on the 24th, and the lamps are lit after sunset. The same day is also Guru Nanak Jayanti, so the city will be busy with several celebrations at once.
What has been reported about arrangements
- Special cleaning of the ghats before the festival, with facade and electric lighting.
- Diyas at the ghats and also at ponds and kunds around Kashi, so the celebration spreads beyond the riverfront.
- A laser show and green fireworks are planned, but these were described as plans in early October. Exact venues and timings are usually confirmed by the administration closer to the date.
Boat rules, traffic diversions and any restrictions on ghat access have not been announced as of 31 October. In past years the district administration has issued these in the final week, so check local news just before you travel.
What it means for yatris
- Reach early: arrive in Varanasi by the morning of 24 November, or the day before. In past years, roads near the ghats have been closed to vehicles from the afternoon.
- Book boats and rooms now: boat seats and riverside rooms fill weeks in advance for this one night.
- With elderly parents: a boat avoids standing for hours in packed lanes, but boarding on crowded ghats needs a steady hand. Choose a ghat with easier steps and keep the group together.
- Keep the dharmik focus: many families combine Kartik Purnima snan at dawn, darshan at Kashi Vishwanath and deep daan in the evening.
Plan with us
See our Dev Deepawali Varanasi ghat darshan by boat and the Varanasi Dev Deepawali Experience. Our full Dev Deepawali 2026 guide and Kashi Vishwanath darshan guide help with planning. To check availability, use the enquiry form on this page or call/WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page).
