The festival year of 2026-27 is anchored on Dev Deepawali, 24 November 2026, when more than a million lamps line all 84 ghats and the crowds triple. The Ganga Mahotsav runs 19-24 November at Sant Ravidas Ghat, Mahashivratri turns February into a temple night, and Shravan takes over July and August. Every date is a lunar tithi that can slide by an evening, so the printed panchang remains the final word.
The year at a glance
| January | Makar Sankranti and the kite festival, Jan 12-15. |
| February | Mahashivratri, the long temple night. |
| March | Holi, colour in the lanes. |
| April | the Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh, a week of classical music. |
| ?? | Buddha Poornima at Sarnath. |
| June | Ganga Dussehra on the river. |
| July-August | Shravan month, the Shiva season. |
| October | Navratri, fireworks, Dussehra and the month-long Ramnagar Ramlila. |
| November | Dev Deepawali on 24 Nov; Ganga Mahotsav 19-24 Nov. |
| December | the coldest month and the malaiyo season. |
Dev Deepawali: the lake of lamps
On 24 November 2026 the Kartik full moon rises over the river and the ghats answer with more than a million earthen lamps, tier on tier from the waterline to the rooftops, across all 84 ghats. The aarti begins around 5:30 PM, and the boats drift between the fires from late afternoon.
The crowd is about three times a normal evening � bridges, rooftops and water all full. Reach your ghat by 4 PM, keep the camera charged, and settle for the light hour before the aarti, when the lamps are already lit but the sky still carries colour.
Boats on Dev Deepawali
Book 4-6 weeks ahead
private ghat boats and cruise seats go fast from October.
Expect 2-3x the price
festival fares run two to three times the ordinary rate.
VIP boats
?3,000-6,000 for a fixed position and a private rower.
The slot and the position
take the evening window, 4-8 PM, and stay mid-river to see the full arc of the lamps.
Ganga Mahotsav
The Ganga Mahotsav runs 19-24 November 2026 at Sant Ravidas Ghat: music, dance, a boat race and craft stalls, most of it free and open to the sky.
It overlaps the Dev Deepawali week, so the nights blur beautifully � one evening of festival stages, the next of a million lamps. Reach the stage area an hour early; the good standing spots go first.
Mahashivratri
Mahashivratri falls in February; the exact tithi must be confirmed against the panchang. The city runs on temple time: all-night vigils, chants at every ghat, and the Mangla Aarti at Kashi Vishwanath at its festival price of ?1,800.
Rooms and boats both climb in these days. Hold a hotel booking two weeks out, reach the temple by 9 PM, and take the darshan after the first wave of the night.
Shravan: the Mangla month
Shravan, roughly July to August, is the month of Shiva. Temples run extended hours � Kashi Vishwanath stays open 6 AM to 11 PM � and the Mangla Aarti rises to ?600, or ?1,200 on Mondays, when the queue is a river of its own.
Book the Sugam darshan ahead for Shravan Mondays and start the temple rounds before 6 AM. The ghats also fill for the shravani dips; this month the river side is not the calm side.
Makar Sankranti
The kite festival runs January 12-15, and the sky over the ghats turns into a shifting patchwork of kites and broken threads. The morning from Assi or Dashashwamedh is the classic view.
It is a local festival first: rooftops full, the river breeze carrying the hum, and the winter light at its best.
The Sangeet Samaroh
Every April the Sankat Mochan temple hosts the week-long Sangeet Samaroh, an open-air classical music festival founded in the memory of Tulsidas. Entry is free, the seating is the grass, and the artists are among the best names in the country.
The concerts begin in the evening and run deep into the night. Carry a shawl, arrive by 6 PM for a grass seat, and stay for at least one full piece.
Buddha Poornima
The May full moon is Buddha Poornima, and Sarnath becomes the center of the celebration: monks from the Thai, Tibetan and Sri Lankan monasteries gather at the stupa, flags go up over the lawns, and the chants start before sunrise.
Reach Sarnath by 6 AM for the calm part, visit the museum first, and plan the return before the midday heat.
Holi and the October cycle
| Holi, March | the old city lanes get intense from 8 AM; the ghats are the calmer version. |
| Navratri, October | the Durga Temple needs advance booking around Navratri. |
| Dussehra | fireworks over the old city lanes. |
| Ramnagar Ramlila | a month-long staging across the river, evening performances through October. |
December: malaiyo and the coldest nights
Where to watch, free and paid
| Ghats and steps | free; arrive 60-90 minutes early for a step. |
| VIP aarti seats | ?150-500, booked ahead. |
| Boat seats | shared ?200-300 per person; private ?1,200-2,000. |
| Dev Deepawali boats | ?3,000-6,000 for VIP positions, booked 4-6 weeks out. |
The crowd and price cheat sheet
| Dev Deepawali | crowds about 3x; boats 2-3x; VIP ?3,000-6,000. |
| Mahashivratri | Mangla Aarti at ?1,800; rooms booked two weeks out. |
| Shravan Mondays | Mangla at ?1,200; Sugam pass ahead; long queues. |
| Ganga Mahotsav | free stages; arrive an hour early. |
| Sangeet Samaroh | free classical music; arrive by 6 PM. |
| Buddha Poornima | Sarnath fills by mid-morning; museum first. |
The booking calendar
| 4-6 weeks ahead | Dev Deepawali boats and VIP seats. |
| 2 weeks ahead | Mahashivratri hotel rooms. |
| A day before | Mangla tickets on festival dates. |
| October | the Ganga Mahotsav week and Ramlila evenings. |
The moon decides everything
एक नज़र में
- ✓ Dev Deepawali: 24 Nov 2026, 1M+ lamps.
- ✓ Ganga Mahotsav: 19-24 Nov at Sant Ravidas Ghat.
- ✓ Boats 2-3x price; VIP ?3,000-6,000.
- ✓ All dates are tithis; check the panchang.
तुरंत जवाब
When exactly is Dev Deepawali 2026?
On 24 November 2026, the Kartik full moon night. The lamps go up from late afternoon and the aarti begins around 5:30 PM; the full glow is on the water by 7 PM.
How far ahead should I book a boat?
Four to six weeks before Dev Deepawali. Private boats and cruise seats go fast from October, and festival prices run two to three times the ordinary rate � VIP positions cost ?3,000-6,000.
When is Mahashivratri?
In February � the exact date depends on the moon, so confirm it against the printed panchang. On the festival night the Mangla Aarti at Kashi Vishwanath runs at ?1,800 till dawn.
What is the Ganga Mahotsav?
A free, open-air festival running 19-24 November 2026 at Sant Ravidas Ghat � music, dance, a boat race and craft stalls. It overlaps the Dev Deepawali week, so the two festivals run back to back.
What does Shravan mean for visitors?
Extended temple hours and heavier crowds, especially Mondays. The Mangla Aarti rises to ?600 � ?1,200 on Shravan Mondays; book the Sugam darshan ahead and start the temple rounds before 6 AM.
Are the festival concerts free?
Yes � the April Sangeet Samaroh at Sankat Mochan and most Ganga Mahotsav stages are free entry. Arrive early for seats; the good spots are gone by early evening.
Which month is best for the aarti and the ghats?
October to March is the sweet season, with 5-25 degrees Celsius. November stacks the Ganga Mahotsav and Dev Deepawali into one week; December adds malaiyo and the coldest, clearest nights.
How do I confirm the exact dates?
Every festival is a lunar tithi that can slide by a day or an evening. Check the printed panchang of the month before booking boats, rooms or trains.