Dev Deepawali in Varanasi

Dev Deepawali is one of the most beautiful sights Varanasi has to offer, a night when the entire stretch of ghats along the Ganges comes alive with the soft glow of thousands upon thousands of earthen lamps. Celebrated on the full moon night of Kartik Purnima, this festival is often called the Diwali of the gods, based on the belief that on this night the deities themselves descend to earth to bathe in the sacred river. Every step of every ghat, from Assi to Manikarnika, gets lined with flickering diyas, and boats drift slowly on the water carrying visitors who want a closer look at the spectacle. The evening usually builds up with music, chanting, and a grand Ganga Aarti before the lamps are lit all at once, creating a wall of light that mirrors itself on the river below. For anyone who wants to see Kashi at its most magical, Dev Deepawali is the night to be there.