Washrooms available
At the boarding point, with fixed washroom breaks on the ride.
DateTue, 24 Nov 2026
Boarding3:00 PM
Boarding pointAdi Keshav Ghat
About the night
The night the gods are said to come down to Kashi
Dev Deepawali is the Diwali of the gods. It falls on Kartik Purnima, the full moon of the month of Kartik, fifteen days after Diwali. In 2026 that night is Tuesday, 24 November. By tradition the gods descend to Earth on this day to bathe in the Ganga, and Kashi welcomes them with light.
Every ghat from Ravidas Ghat in the south to Rajghat in the north is lit with more than a million earthen diyas. Devotees bathe in the Ganga in the morning, float diyas on the river in the evening, and the Ganga Aarti is performed on the steps with hymns, conches and drums. The lighting of the ghats began at Dashashwamedh Ghat in 1991 and has become one of Varanasi's biggest nights.
Reports in October 2026 say the state plans to light more than 11 lakh diyas across the ghats and kunds this year, with laser shows and green fireworks.
Why do it from the river? On the steps you see the lights above you. From a boat you see all of them at once: the whole curve of the ghats alight, the aarti from the water, and a million diyas doubled in the Ganga.
Sources: Wikipedia, Dev Deepavali (Varanasi); Curly Tales, 7 October 2026.
Included in your pass
The Ganga Utsav Experience
One pass, one bajra, one evening on the Ganga. Everything below is included in your pass, with nothing to add on board.
Reserve your seatsTap any item for details.
Event at a glance
One evening, from daylight to diyas
Tuesday 24 November 2026 · Kartik Purnima. Tap any step to move through the evening. Only the boarding time is fixed; the rest follows the light and the administration's schedule for the night.
- 3:00 PM
Boarding at Adi Keshav Ghat
Our team meets you at the ghat, checks your e-pass, and takes you to your seats with your group together.
- Afternoon
Out along the ghats
The bajra moves out onto the Ganga and along the ghats as the light softens and the first diyas are placed.
- Around sunset
Deep daan
Every guest floats a diya on the Ganga. As the sky darkens, the full moon of Kartik rises over the river.
- Dusk
The ghats come alive
The Banarasi chaat counter opens on board while the ghats fill with diyas.
- Evening
Ganga Aarti, and Char Dham VR
Watch the Ganga Aarti from the water. Then each guest takes a turn in the VR headset to see the Char Dham and the 12 Jyotirlingas (recorded, not live).
- Night
Fireworks and laser show
Fireworks and a laser show over the river, with photographs by our photographer and a souvenir to take home.
- Later
The last diya, and back to the ghat
We bring you back to the ghat after the Aarti and fireworks, the ghats still glowing behind you. Usually back by about 9 PM, depending on the administration.
Timings follow the administration's schedule for the night and may shift. Usually back by about 9 PM, depending on the administration. We keep you informed on WhatsApp.
Comfort and safety
Looked after, from the ghat to the last diya
Life jacketsA life jacket for every guest, worn whenever the crew asks
Trained boatmanAn experienced boatman on each bajra, with our team on board
Drinking waterDrinking water available on board throughout the evening
WashroomsAvailable at the boarding point, with fixed washroom breaks during the ride
Not included: travel to Adi Keshav Ghat, your stay in Varanasi (unless you choose the Utsav Weekend), and anything not listed above.
Your boat
The Maharaja Bajra, shared with your group
A bajra is a large, traditional wooden boat that carries a whole group together. So the evening on the Ganga is something you share, not something split across many small boats. Seats are limited. Book together and we seat your family or friends side by side.
For reference only. The real boat and its decorations may differ a little.
Getting there
Boarding at Adi Keshav Ghat
The ghat
Why we board here. On Dev Deepawali the roads around the central ghats are restricted and traffic is heavy. Adi Keshav Ghat, at the quieter northern end by the Varuna sangam, is reachable by car, so getting to your boat stays simple even when the main ghat roads are shut.
Adi Keshav Ghat, also known as Raj Ghat, is where the Varuna river meets the Ganga, at the northern end of Varanasi's ghats. Tradition says Lord Vishnu first set foot in Kashi here, at Lord Shiva's invitation, which is why he is worshipped as Adi Keshav, the "first Keshav". The Kashi Khand, the old Sanskrit text on Kashi, praises the shrine, and its Adi Keshav–Sangameshwar linga is said to join Vishnu and Shiva in one deity. The temple was destroyed in 1194 and restored in the Maratha era, and the ghat is still a quiet end of the stretch that is lit on Dev Deepawali.
Open in Google MapsCars reach the ghat
Reach the ghat by car. We send a location pin and the easiest route.
Our team meets you
At the ghat, and takes you to your seats with your group.
Avoid the city crowd
Central ghat traffic is heavy. Plan extra time, as vehicles may stop some distance away.
Gallery
Evenings and groups we have hosted
Real guests, real groups, from our earlier Dev Deepawali evenings and trips. Tap Sound on any video to hear it, including two guests telling us how Dev Deepawali felt.
Guests and groups from our earlier Dev Deepawali evenings and trips. Ganga Utsav itself is new this year.
About the hosts
The people who will host you
Ganga Utsav is hosted by Namastay and Ayodhya Darshan Yatra. 3,000+ guests hosted across Kashi and Ayodhya, from families to large groups, on the ghats, in the temples and on the river.
Namastay Kashi
Spiritual stays, across Kashi
Namastay Kashi is a chain of stays built around the spiritual journey. Families and groups stay with us, and we plan their darshan, ghat visits and evenings on the river.
- Stays for spiritual travellers
- Darshan and ghat visits planned for guests
- Evenings on the river, like Ganga Utsav
Ayodhya Darshan Yatra
Yatras to Ayodhya and Kashi
Group yatras to Ayodhya and Kashi, with a host who travels with the group from the first day to the last.
- Yatras to Ayodhya and Kashi
- A host with the group throughout
- Darshan planned for families and groups
Experience Ganga Utsav as our guest
Tuesday, 24 November 2026 · Boarding 3:00 PM · Adi Keshav Ghat, Varanasi
Choose how to come
Choose your way, then reserve
Pick the Pass or the Utsav Weekend, and tell us how many are coming. Our team allots seats on the bajras and seats your group together. Your booking is confirmed when your payment arrives.
Guests
For 10 or more, ask for a group quote below.
- Boarding at Adi Keshav Ghat, 3:00 PM
- Deep daan, Grand Ganga Aarti (viewed from the boat), fireworks and laser show
- Your turn in the Char Dham and 12 Jyotirlinga VR experience
- Music on board, Banarasi chaat, chai and toast, photographs, souvenir
Booking for a bigger group or a whole bajra?
Families, friends, corporate teams, travel groups and tour operators: tell us the group size and we send you a quote.
Make a weekend of it
The Utsav Weekend, day by day
The stay, heritage walk and boat evening are part of the package. Meals are not included. The ideas for your days are suggestions, not part of it.
Mon, 23 Nov
Arrive and settle
- Check in at the hotel, about 2 km from Adi Keshav Ghat.
- Evening: the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, held every evening.
- Walk the lanes of Kashi, or visit Kashi Vishwanath Dham.
Tue, 24 Nov · Kartik Purnima
Dev Deepawali
- Morning: the Kartik Purnima Ganga snan, the traditional holy bath.
- Day at leisure. Rest before the evening.
- Make your way to Adi Keshav Ghat for boarding at 3:00 PM.
- Evening on the bajra. Return to the ghat, then to your hotel.
Wed, 25 Nov
Slow morning
- Breakfast at a local spot (not included). Try kachori-sabzi and hot jalebi; in winter, look for malaiyyo.
- Visit Sarnath if you have time.
- Check out.
How booking works
Four steps, all on WhatsApp
- Send your requestFill in the booking form above. It opens WhatsApp with your details ready.
- We confirmWe check availability and reply with UPI payment details.
- Pay in fullPay the full amount by UPI to hold your seats. Send us the screenshot.
- Get your passA day before the event, you receive your e-pass with seat number, location pin and boarding details.
Payment and cancellation
Clear terms, once
- Booking: passes are sold at full price only, paid in full at booking. Your seat is confirmed once we receive your payment.
- Cancellation: cancel by 15 Nov 2026 and 50% of the amount you paid is refunded. After 15 Nov, or for a no-show, there is no refund.
- Transfer: pass your seat to someone else free of charge until 22 Nov. Send us their name.
- If we cancel the event, or the administration stops boats before sailing, you receive a full refund.
- If you booked through a partner, any refund is made through that partner.
- Utsav Weekend: the same dates apply.
Questions
Everything people ask
The event
What is Dev Deepawali?
The "Diwali of the gods", celebrated on Kartik Purnima, the full-moon night about fifteen days after Diwali. The ghats of Varanasi are lit with a million diyas, devotees float lamps on the Ganga, and the Ganga Aarti is held on a grand scale.
What is Ganga Utsav?
Our Dev Deepawali evening on the Ganga, hosted by Namastay and Ayodhya Darshan Yatra: a seat on a bajra, deep daan, the Grand Ganga Aarti from the boat, fireworks and a laser show, the Char Dham and 12 Jyotirlinga VR experience, Banarasi chaat, chai and toast, photographs and a souvenir.
Why see it from a boat?
From a boat you see the whole curve of the ghats alight, the aarti from the water, and the reflections of the diyas on the river. It is the view the festival is known for.
Are fireworks guaranteed?
Fireworks over the Ganga are part of the night. Their timing and scale follow the administration's schedule, so we cannot promise a fixed time.
What is the VR experience?
On board, every guest takes a turn with a VR headset to see the Char Dham and the 12 Jyotirlingas, from the middle of the Ganga. It is a recorded VR experience, not a live darshan.
Boarding and timing
When does the evening end?
We bring you back to the ghat after the Ganga Aarti and fireworks. Usually back by about 9 PM, depending on the administration. There is no fixed clock time, because the night follows the administration's schedule. Plan to be free for the whole evening.
What is an e-pass?
A day before the event we send you an e-pass on WhatsApp with your seat number, a location pin and boarding details. Show it to our team at the ghat.
Where and when do we board?
At Adi Keshav Ghat, Varanasi, at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. We send a location pin and the easiest route with your confirmation.
When should we arrive?
Plan to reach the ghat before 3:00 PM. Traffic around the ghats is heavy and restricted on Dev Deepawali, so leave extra time for the last stretch.
Will the timings change?
Boarding is at 3:00 PM. The rest of the evening follows the light and the administration's schedule for the night, and may shift. We keep you informed on WhatsApp.
Seats and groups
Can I choose my seat?
Our team allots seats on the bajras when your booking is confirmed, and keeps your group together. If someone needs a particular spot, for example an elder, mention it in your request and we will do our best.
Can I book just one seat?
Yes. Book for one guest. For the Utsav Weekend you book in pairs.
Will my group sit together?
Yes. We seat everyone on one booking side by side.
Do you take large groups and tour operators?
Yes. Use the group quote button, or message us on WhatsApp with your group size, and we will send you a quote.
Can I bring children or elders?
Yes. Mention them in your request so we can seat you comfortably. Boarding involves steps at the ghat.
Price and payment
What does the price include?
Your seat on the bajra, deep daan, the Grand Ganga Aarti (viewed from the boat), fireworks and a laser show, the Char Dham and 12 Jyotirlinga VR experience, professional photography, music on board, the Banarasi chaat counter (golgappa, tikiya chaat, tamatar chaat, chura matar and gulab jamun), chai and toast, and a souvenir.
Is the price all-inclusive?
Yes. ₹7,999 per person is all-inclusive, with nothing to add at the ghat. Early bird offer until 7th November.
What is not included?
Travel to Adi Keshav Ghat (including from your hotel on the Utsav Weekend), your stay in Varanasi (unless you choose the Utsav Weekend), and anything not listed as included.
How do I pay?
After you send your request, we confirm availability and share UPI details. You pay the full amount at booking to confirm your seat.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel by 15 November 2026 and 50% of the amount you paid is refunded. After 15 November, or for a no-show, there is no refund. You can pass your seat to someone else free of charge until 22 November, and if we cancel the event, or the administration stops boats before sailing, you receive a full refund.
Safety and comfort
Are life jackets provided?
Yes. Every guest gets a life jacket, and each bajra has a trained boatman. Please wear the jacket whenever the crew asks.
Is there drinking water and a washroom?
Yes. Drinking water is available on board. Washrooms are available at the boarding point, and there are fixed washroom breaks during the ride.
Is there music on board?
Yes, music plays on board. There is no live performance as of now. The Ganga Aarti and the fireworks are the main events of the night.
What if the weather or river conditions stop the boats?
If the event is cancelled, or the administration stops boats before we sail, you receive a full refund.
The Utsav Weekend
What is the Utsav Weekend?
A package for two guests: one hotel room for two nights (23 and 24 November) at a hotel about 2 km from the boarding point, two seats on the boat, and a heritage walk (details to follow). Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. Choose Utsav Weekend in the booking form and book in pairs.
Can I book more than one Utsav Weekend?
Yes. Add guests in pairs, and each pair gets its own room.
What to bring
What should I wear?
Comfortable footwear for the ghat steps, festive but easy clothes, and a light jacket or shawl, because the air on the river is cooler after sunset.
Can I take photographs?
Yes, and our professional photographer covers the evening too. Keep your phone charged.
Partners
Partner with Ganga Utsav
Travel agents, tour operators, hotels, temples and community groups: bring your guests to the river on Dev Deepawali and earn a commission on every booking. The terms are simple, and everything is paid in one transfer.
Get in touch
We'd love to host you
Call us+91 78001 00032
Email usinfo@gangautsav.in
Boarding point
Adi Keshav Ghat (Raj Ghat), Varanasi. Our team meets you there at 3:00 PM.
Open in Google Maps