Festivals of the Holy City

📅 November (Kartik Purnima)

The festival of gods — all 84 ghats are lit up with over a million earthen diyas (lamps). The entire Ganga banks glow magnificently. This is considered more grand than Diwali itself.

📅 November (5 days before Dev Deepawali)

A 5-day cultural festival celebrating the Ganga river featuring classical music, dance, boat processions, and the grand Ganga Aarti. Artists from across India perform here.

📅 February / March

Varanasi's biggest festival — Lord Shiva's night. The Kashi Vishwanath temple sees lakhs of pilgrims. All-night celebrations, special abhishek (ritual bathing of Shivalinga) and massive crowds.

📅 March

Varanasi celebrates Holi uniquely — starting with Rang Bhari Ekadashi where Lord Shiva plays Holi at Kashi Vishwanath. The burning ghats also have a unique 'Masaan Holi' celebration.

📅 October / November (Kartik Purnima)

A unique Varanasi festival where a child dressed as Lord Krishna enacts the subduing of the Nag (serpent) Kaliya. Performed on boats in the middle of the Ganga.

📅 April / May

Celebrated grandly at Sarnath, the birthplace of Buddhism (where Buddha gave his first sermon). Thousands of Buddhist monks and devotees from across the world gather here.