What are the main festivals at Kashi Vishwanath?
Mahashivratri and the month of Sawan are the great Shiva festivals, drawing the largest crowds to Kashi Vishwanath. Dev Deepawali, on Kartik Purnima, lights the ghats with lamps. Holi, Diwali, Navratri and Makar Sankranti are also celebrated with distinctive Kashi traditions. Dates follow the lunar calendar and change each year.
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Festival calendar
| Festival | Usually falls in | Calendar basis | Next date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mahashivratri | February–March | Krishna Chaturdashi of Phalguna (purnimanta calendar) | 6 March (2027) |
| Sawan | July–August | The lunar month of Shravana (purnimanta calendar in north India) | To be confirmed — check a reliable panchang |
| Dev Deepawali | November (about fifteen days after Diwali) | Kartik Purnima (full moon of Kartik) | 24 November (2026) |
| Holi | March | Phalguna Purnima (Holika Dahan) and the following day | To be confirmed — check a reliable panchang |
| Diwali | October–November | Kartik Amavasya (new moon; amanta calendar) | 8 November (2026) |
| Navratri | September–October (Sharad) and March–April (Chaitra) | Shukla Pratipada to Navami of Ashvin (Sharad) and of Chaitra | 11 October (Sharad Navratri begins) (2026) |
| Makar Sankranti | 14 or 15 January | Solar: the Sun's entry into Makara (Capricorn) | To be confirmed — check a reliable panchang |
See the full Kashi festival calendar.
Festival guides
- Festival CalendarA calendar of Kashi's main festivals with their lunar basis, the months they usually fall in and upcoming dates we have verified. Updated annually.
- MahashivratriMahashivratri at Kashi Vishwanath: the meaning of the festival, the night-long worship, the Shiv Baraat procession, crowd arrangements and practical tips for pilgrims.
- SawanSawan (Shravan) at Kashi Vishwanath: why the month is sacred to Shiva, Sawan Mondays, kanwariyas, crowd arrangements, suspended services and practical tips.
- Dev DeepawaliDev Deepawali in Varanasi: the festival of lamps on Kartik Purnima when the ghats glow with lakhs of diyas — meaning, best viewing spots, boats, crowds and tips.
- HoliHoli in Kashi: Rangbhari Ekadashi at Kashi Vishwanath, the Masan Holi tradition at the cremation ghats, Holika Dahan, thandai and safety tips for visitors.
- DiwaliDiwali in Kashi: lamps on the ghats, Dhanteras and Annakut at Annapurna Devi Temple, the five days of the festival and how it leads to Dev Deepawali.
- NavratriNavratri in Kashi: the tradition of visiting a different goddess shrine each day, the Durga Temple, Durga Puja pandals, the Ramnagar Ramlila and practical tips.
- Makar SankrantiMakar Sankranti in Kashi: the sacred dip in the Ganga, sesame and jaggery sweets, kite flying, khichdi and practical tips for a winter visit.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best festival to visit Varanasi?
Dev Deepawali (Kartik Purnima, usually November) is the most spectacular for visitors. Mahashivratri and Sawan are the most important for Shiva devotees but extremely crowded.
Why do festival dates change every year?
Most Hindu festivals follow the lunisolar calendar (tithis and lunar months), so their Gregorian dates move from year to year.
Sources and further reading
We link to primary and authoritative sources. External links open in a new tab.
- Drik Panchang — Hindu festival dates for Varanasi (opens in a new tab)
Drik Panchang — Reference work, checked September 2026
- Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust — official web portal (opens in a new tab)
Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust — Official temple source, checked September 2026
Written and maintained by the KashiVishwanathTemple.net Editorial Team. Last updated . Found an error? Tell us — see our editorial policy.
Related guides
- Festival CalendarA calendar of Kashi's main festivals with their lunar basis, the months they usually fall in and upcoming dates we have verified. Updated annually.
- Queue & CrowdsHow long does Kashi Vishwanath darshan take? Crowd patterns by hour, weekday and season, the busiest days of the year and how to plan around the queue.
- Temple TimingsCheck the latest Kashi Vishwanath Temple timings, darshan schedule, aarti timings and practical tips for planning your visit to Varanasi.
- Dev DeepawaliDev Deepawali in Varanasi: the festival of lamps on Kartik Purnima when the ghats glow with lakhs of diyas — meaning, best viewing spots, boats, crowds and tips.
- DiwaliDiwali in Kashi: lamps on the ghats, Dhanteras and Annakut at Annapurna Devi Temple, the five days of the festival and how it leads to Dev Deepawali.
- HoliHoli in Kashi: Rangbhari Ekadashi at Kashi Vishwanath, the Masan Holi tradition at the cremation ghats, Holika Dahan, thandai and safety tips for visitors.