When are the festivals in Varanasi?
Makar Sankranti in mid-January; Mahashivratri in February or March; Holi in March; Chaitra Navratri in March or April; Sawan in July and August; Sharad Navratri in September or October; Diwali in October or November; and Dev Deepawali on Kartik Purnima, about fifteen days after Diwali. Exact dates change yearly.
On this page
The 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 |
How we handle dates
Most of these festivals are set by the lunisolar Hindu calendar, so their Gregorian dates change every year, and different calendars occasionally disagree by a day. We show an upcoming date only after cross-checking it against a published panchang for Varanasi; otherwise we mark it "to be confirmed". Dates are reviewed annually. Temple arrangements for each festival are announced separately by the temple administration.
Planning around festivals
- Book accommodation and any official temple services early.
- Expect much longer darshan queues and changed arrangements.
- Boats and viewpoints cost more on festival evenings.
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.
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