Key Points:
- Dev Deepawali falls on Kartik Poornima, November 5, 2025; main rituals 5:15 PM–7:50 PM
- Ganga Festival runs November 1–4, featuring processions, cultural events, and deepdaan rituals
- Over one million diyas will light up 100+ ghats along the Ganges
- Grand Ganga Aarti, fireworks, and live performances planned at major ghats
- Security and crowd measures intensified for lakhs of expected visitors
Varanasi: Known as the “Diwali of the Gods,” Dev Deepawali is one of Varanasi’s most significant and visually stunning festivals, celebrated on the full moon night of Kartik Poornima, 15 days after traditional Diwali. According to tradition, deities are believed to descend to the ghats of Kashi to bathe in the Ganges, commemorating Lord Shiva’s victory over the demon Tripurasura.
Preparations and Events on the Ghats
This year, festivities officially began with the Ganga Festival from November 1 to 4, including deepdaan (lamp offering), morning snan (ritual baths), cultural programs, and boat processions. The event has grown in scale, with over 21 lakh diyas illuminating the riverside in 2024, and crowd estimates expected to exceed 10 lakh visitors for 2025. Security checks, traffic controls, and crowd management are in place for the safety of participants.
Main Day Celebrations: November 5 Highlights
On November 5, Dev Deepawali celebrations peak at sunset. The most auspicious time, Pradoshakal Muhurat, lasts from 5:15 PM to 7:50 PM. During this window, priests lead grand Ganga Aarti ceremonies, synchronizing chants and lamps as thousands gather along Dashashwamedh, Assi, and Rajendra Prasad Ghats. Cultural performances, laser shows, and coordinated fireworks further elevate the festival atmosphere.
Rituals and Visitor Experience
Devotees begin the day with Kartik Snan, a holy dip in the Ganges, before participating in deepdaan and evening aarti. Organizers offer special boat rides for visitors to witness illuminated ghats, and the best viewpoints include Dashashwamedh, Assi, and Chet Singh Ghats. This spectacular sight of millions of diyas lighting both the riverbank and the water is unique to Varanasi and draws visitors from across India and the world.
Tradition, Legend, and Significance
Dev Deepawali honors Lord Shiva’s triumph over evil, symbolized by the lighting of lamps and recitation of prayers to guide the deities to Earth. The festival is rooted in legend, reminding people that light conquers darkness and virtue overcomes vice. For many, it is a powerful moment of shared spirituality, joy, and connection along the sacred river.
Varanasi’s Dev Deepawali 2025 promises even greater grandeur with meticulous arrangements for crowd flow, technology-driven laser shows, and intensified spiritual energy. The city stands ready to shine with devotion, tradition, and community on November 5.
