Dev Deepawali in Varanasi, 2027: what it is and how to plan your visit

Dev Deepawali, "the Diwali of the gods", is Varanasi’s own festival of lights. It falls on Kartik Purnima, the full-moon day of the month of Kartik, about fifteen days after Diwali.

Devotees believe that on this night the gods come down to Kashi to bathe in the Ganga and celebrate. The day is also remembered as Tripura Purnima, when Lord Shiva defeated the demon Tripurasura, which makes it especially sacred in Shiva’s own city.

At dusk, the long curve of ghats along the Ganga is lined with earthen lamps, step after step, from one end of the riverfront to the other. The evening Ganga aarti on this night is larger and more elaborate than usual. Many families also take a Kartik Purnima snan, a holy dip in the Ganga, early in the morning, and offer deep daan, floating lamps on the river.

Dev Deepawali is set by the Hindu lunar calendar, so its date on the Gregorian calendar changes every year. It usually falls in November, on the Kartik Purnima tithi.

Dates follow the Hindu calendar; we confirm them as the year’s panchang is published. When the panchang for 2027 is out, this page will carry the exact date. Until then, plan around a window in November, and keep your dates firm only once the date is confirmed.

The days before Dev Deepawali are also busy. The whole month of Kartik is considered auspicious for bathing in the Ganga, and the city hosts cultural programmes on the ghats in the run-up to the full moon.

Dev Deepawali is one of the busiest days of the year in Varanasi. Expect:

• Very large crowds on the ghats from the afternoon onwards, especially at Dashashwamedh and the ghats near it. Finding space on the steps gets harder by the hour.
• Boats booked well in advance. Watching the lamps from the river is the most sought-after view, and boats for that evening fill up early.
• Traffic restrictions near the riverfront, with vehicles stopped some distance from the ghats. You may need to walk the last stretch through the lanes.
• Heavy footfall at Kashi Vishwanath. Many devotees combine the festival with darshan, and the temple may change its queue and entry arrangements for the day.
• Hotels near the ghats and the temple fill up early, often weeks ahead.

If you can, do darshan in the morning or a day before, and keep the evening free for the ghats.

Arrive a day early. Reaching Varanasi the day before lets you settle in, do darshan at Kashi Vishwanath in a calmer hour, and be ready for the festival evening without rushing.

Stay close. A room within walking distance of the temple and the ghats saves you from the evening traffic closures. Walking is often the only practical way to reach the river on the night.

Plan the boat early. If you want to see the lamps from the water, book your boat as soon as your dates are firm.

Go early to the ghat. If you watch from the steps, reach well before sunset and stay together; agree a meeting point in case you get separated in the crowd.

Travel light. Carry ID, a small bag, water and a shawl. November evenings on the river can be cool.

Mind the crowds with elders and children. The ghats get very crowded at dusk, so keep elders and small children close, or watch from a boat.

MandirMay is an independent platform and is not affiliated with the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust. For Dev Deepawali, we can put together:

• Sugam darshan booking assistance for the temple’s official ticket. Each devotee above 12 needs Aadhaar details; children under 12 go free.
• A hotel room about a 2–3 minute walk from Kashi Vishwanath, in Economy or Premium.
• Pickup and drop for Varanasi Airport (about 25 km) or Varanasi Junction (about 5 km).
• The evening boat ride, by the seat or the whole boat for up to eight people. Tell us when you book that your date is Dev Deepawali, so we can check the boat for that evening.
• A Sankalp puja at the Ganga ghat, or a Rudrabhishek.

Or pick a ready-made Kashi Darshan, Ganga Aarti & Boat trip, with Sugam darshan, a ghat puja, the evening boat and airport transfers over two nights, when one fits your dates.

Because Kashi bookings are non-refundable and can’t be rescheduled, please book only once the 2027 date is confirmed and your travel is fixed. Today’s prices are in the tables below.