Dev Deepawali in Varanasi: date, boat bookings and the ghats
Plan Dev Deepawali in Varanasi on Kartik Purnima: lakhs of diyas on the ghats, booking a boat, where to stay, Ganga aarti, crowds and costs.
By the Agrima Holidays Team · Updated October 2026 · 2 min read
About Dev Deepawali
Fifteen days after Diwali, on Kartik Purnima, Varanasi lights its ghats with lakhs of earthen lamps. The festival marks the day the gods are believed to descend to bathe in the Ganga. From a boat on the river, the whole crescent of the ghats glows from Assi to Raj Ghat.
Date
Dev Deepawali falls on Kartik Purnima, usually in November. The same day marks Guru Nanak Jayanti.
Boats
Boats are the best way to see the lights. Prices rise sharply for the evening, and shared and private boats sell out weeks ahead. We book boats with a fixed pick-up ghat and timing.
Where to stay
Hotels near Dashashwamedh and Assi ghats sell out months ahead. Book by August. Riverside heritage hotels give views from the terrace.
Other sights
- The Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh
- Kashi Vishwanath darshan
- A dawn boat ride
- Sarnath, 10 km away
Tips
- Roads close to vehicles near the ghats in the evening. Walk or take a boat
- Keep valuables to a minimum
- Carry a light shawl. November evenings are cool
What it costs
Our Varanasi and Kashi, Prayag and Ayodhya trips start from the prices on their package pages. Dev Deepawali dates carry surcharges and are quoted on request.
Tell us your dates and we send a plan within 24 hours on working days.
