Varanasi · 15 days after Diwali · Kartik Purnima
Dev Deepawali
Varanasi's Ghats Become a River of Light
Tags: Dev Deepawali · Varanasi Festival · Kartik Purnima · Ganga Festival · Kashi · Indian Festivals
Several weeks after the main Diwali celebration, **Varanasi** hosts one of India's great spectacles of light.
During **Dev Deepawali**, countless lamps illuminate the ghats beside the Ganges. From boats on the river, the city appears as a continuous glowing wall.
A River of Light
The event combines pilgrimage, ritual, sacred geography and extraordinary visual beauty.
Every ghat is decorated. Millions of earthen lamps (diyas) line the steps. Boats form a floating parade on the Ganges. The entire riverfront becomes a canvas of flickering flames.
For photographers, Varanasi during Dev Deepawali offers arguably its most magical evening.
Planning a Visit
Accommodation and transportation can become extremely busy. Book hotels well in advance.
Boat rides on the Ganges during Dev Deepawali evening are the most sought-after experience.
The main Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat is grander than usual.