Dev Diwali, Varanasi

Dev Diwali — the "Diwali of the Gods" — is celebrated 15 days after Diwali. Varanasi's ghats are lit with over a million earthen lamps as locals welcome the gods believed to descend to earth.

Celebrates Lord Shiva's victory over three demon brothers who unleashed chaos across the universe. To celebrate this, the entire Hindu pantheon is believed to descend to the ghats.

Over a million earthen diyas are lit along the contiguous stretch of Varanasi's historic stone ghats. The evening culminates in highly synchronized, multi-priest river ceremonies.

Includes a purifying dawn river bath and floating lamps on the water. The solemn Akashdeep ritual involves lighting tall lamps at Panchganga Ghat to guide departed ancestors.

Devotees believe the gods are physically present on the ghats during this night. Bathing in the Ganges and offering lamps secures divine blessings and honors the lineage of ancestors.

Tradition holds that Lord Shiva killed the demon Tripurasura on this day. Gods came to celebrate, and Varanasi has marked the occasion for centuries.

The 84 ghats of Varanasi are lit end to end with earthen lamps. Lamps line the steps from Assi to Rajghat, fireworks light the Ganga, and boats drift between candle-lit reflections. The Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh swells to a massive crowd. Book a boat well in advance — and arrive early.