Special Yatras

Special Yatras at a glance

Special yatras are built around a sacred date or a family rite rather than a single temple. We run two kinds. Dev Deepawali yatras put you on a bajra boat on the Ganga in Varanasi on Kartik Purnima night, which is 24 November 2026 and 13 November 2027. Kashi–Gaya yatras combine Kashi Vishwanath darshan with pind daan for your ancestors at Gaya Ji and the Mahabodhi temple at Bodh Gaya, in 4 to 5 days. No trekking is involved. We organise both from Dehradun with stays, vehicle, boat seats and pandit coordination.

Which special yatra is right for you?

If you are already in Varanasi, the boat seat alone is enough for Dev Deepawali night. If you are travelling in, the two-day experience adds darshan and Subah-e-Banaras the next morning, and the five-day Spiritual Triangle adds Prayagraj and Ayodhya. For shraddh, choose the four-day Kashi–Gaya yatra for a compact plan, or the five-day version for more time in Kashi.

Prices are per person on sharing basis. Festival-night boat seats and hotels are sold in advance by local suppliers and are usually non-refundable close to the date, so read the cancellation note on each package page. Pandit dakshina and puja samagri for pind daan are paid directly.

Dev Deepawali 2026 and 2027: dates and what happens

On Kartik Purnima the ghats of Kashi are lit with lakhs of diyas at dusk. Tradition holds that the devtas descend to bathe in the Ganga and celebrate Lord Shiva's victory over Tripurasura. The Ganga Maha Aarti at Dashashwamedh is the centrepiece, often followed by a laser show and fireworks across the river. Watching from a boat on the water is the best way to see the full length of the lit ghats.

• Timing: boats usually board around 4 pm and return around 9 pm, following the administration's schedule for the night.
• Getting there: roads near the ghats close to vehicles from the afternoon, so the last stretch to the boarding ghat is on foot through crowds. Wear sturdy footwear and keep children and elders close.
• Safety: life jackets are compulsory and passengers per boat are capped. Carry a shawl, as the river is cold in November.
• Darshan: Kashi Vishwanath does not sell Sugam Darshan on major festival days, and phones and bags are not allowed inside. The general queue can take two hours or more. Our Kashi Vishwanath darshan guide explains timings and lockers.

Pind daan at Gaya Ji: when and how

Gaya Ji, on the Falgu river in Bihar, is the most revered place in India for pind daan, the offering of rice or barley balls for the peace of departed ancestors. The rite is done at the Falgu bank, at the Vishnupad temple and at other vedis, with a family panda guiding each step. It can be done on any day of the year.

• Pitru Paksha 2027 runs from 15 September to Sarva Pitru Amavasya on 29 September 2027, by the New Delhi panchang. This is the most auspicious and most crowded time; in 2026 the Gaya Pitru Paksha Mela ran from 25 September to 10 October.
• What to expect: the Falgu is often a dry, sandy bed, and the walk from the road can be a few hundred metres. The panda arranges the samagri; the person performing the rite bathes first and wears simple fresh clothes.
• Getting there: Varanasi to Gaya is about 250 km by road, roughly six hours. Gaya has an airport and a major railway junction.
• Bodh Gaya, about 15 km away, has the Mahabodhi temple and the Bodhi tree. Phones are deposited at the entrance.

Our Gaya pind daan guide covers the vedis, one-day to multi-day rites and what to bring. If travel is not possible, a tarpan or pind daan can be performed on your behalf through our online puja services.

Combining Kashi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya

The five-day Spiritual Triangle starts in Varanasi on the day before Dev Deepawali, then continues to Prayagraj for Sangam snan and to Ayodhya for Ram Lalla darshan and Saryu aarti. Ram Mandir darshan is free; phones and bags are deposited at the gate. Read our Ayodhya Ram Mandir darshan guide, or see all Kashi and Ayodhya yatras for dates outside the festival.

What we arrange

• Reserved seats on a large bajra boat for Dev Deepawali, with deep daan and Ganga puja on board where the package includes it.
• Hotels in Varanasi, Gaya or Bodh Gaya, Prayagraj and Ayodhya as per the package.
• A private vehicle and drop points planned around festival road closures.
• Introduction to an experienced panda at Gaya, and a dawn start on the day of the rite.
• Vegetarian meals and help with darshan queues and lockers.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dev Deepawali in 2026?

Dev Deepawali 2026 is on Tuesday, 24 November 2026, the night of Kartik Purnima, fifteen days after Diwali. In 2027 it falls on Saturday, 13 November. The ghats are lit at dusk, and the Ganga Maha Aarti, laser show and fireworks run through the evening, so plan to reach Varanasi at least a day before.

What is the best way to see Dev Deepawali in Varanasi?

From a boat on the Ganga. From the water you see the lit ghats stretching for kilometres, along with the Maha Aarti and fireworks, without being pressed in the crowd on the steps. Boat seats are capped by the administration and sell out in advance, so book as early as you can.

Can pind daan at Gaya be done outside Pitru Paksha?

Yes. Pind daan can be performed at Gaya Ji on any day of the year, and many families prefer quieter months for a calmer rite. Pitru Paksha, from 15 to 29 September in 2027, is considered the most auspicious time, but it brings lakhs of pilgrims, so book hotels and the panda months ahead.

How many days are needed for a Kashi and Gaya pind daan yatra?

Four days is enough for a focused yatra: Ganga Aarti and Kashi Vishwanath darshan in Varanasi, the drive to Gaya, a full morning for pind daan, and Bodh Gaya before departure. Five days gives more time in Kashi for temples such as Vishalakshi, Annapurna, Kaal Bhairav and Sankat Mochan.

Who should perform pind daan at Gaya?

Traditionally the son or another male family member performs pind daan, but many families today include daughters, wives and other relatives as the panda advises. The family's panda at Gaya explains the steps, provides the samagri and tells you which vedis to visit for the number of days you have.

Are these special yatras suitable for senior citizens?

Yes, with care. There is no trekking, but Dev Deepawali means walking through crowds to the ghat and climbing in and out of a boat, and the Falgu bank at Gaya involves a walk on sand. We plan hotels close to the ghats where possible and keep a relaxed pace for elders.

To book a festival date or plan a shraddh yatra, use the enquiry form on this page or call or WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page). For online tarpan and puja in Hindi, see ऑनलाइन पूजा.