Everything you need to plan your Dev Diwali 2026 trip to Varanasi — when to go, how to get there, where to watch the Ganga Aarti, and which boat to book.
Dev Diwali, celebrated on 24 November 2026 (Kartik Purnima), is the night the holy city of Varanasi lights all 84 ghats with millions of earthen diyas. It is, by far, the busiest and most spectacular night of the year on the Ganges — and a little planning goes a long way toward actually enjoying it instead of getting lost in the crowd.
Most visitors arrive in Varanasi 1–2 days before Dev Diwali to settle in and avoid last-minute travel stress. Hotels near Assi Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat, or the Cantt area are convenient, since most boats board from Ravidas Ghat, Nagwa. On the day itself, report at the boarding point by 4:30 PM — boats depart around 5:30–6:00 PM, well ahead of the Maha Ganga Aarti at 6:30 PM.
Ravidas Ghat, Nagwa is a short taxi or auto-rickshaw ride from Varanasi Junction (Cantt) Railway Station and from Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport (Babatpur). Traffic gets heavy closer to evening on Dev Diwali, so we recommend leaving extra time and confirming your pickup point with your hotel or boat operator in advance.
On foot, the ghat steps are so densely packed on Dev Diwali night that seeing the Aarti or the lit-up ghats clearly is nearly impossible. A boat ride along the Ganges gives you a continuous, elevated view of all 84 illuminated ghats and a front-facing view of the Maha Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat — without fighting through the crowd.
VisitKashi operates four boat categories for Dev Diwali 2026, each suited to a different kind of traveler. Prices are fixed and transparent — what you see is what you pay.
Carry a light jacket (river breeze gets cool after sunset), keep your phone charged for photos, wear comfortable footwear for the walk to the ghat, and keep your booking confirmation handy on WhatsApp for quick boarding. Avoid carrying excess cash or valuables in the crowd near the ghats.
With over 10,000+ happy guests served since 2017, VisitKashi runs its own fleet directly from Ravidas Ghat — no resellers, no surprise charges. Starting from just ₹3,199/person, our local team handles the logistics so your Dev Diwali night goes smoothly from boarding to the final diya.
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