Diwali 2026 in Varanasi: Lakshmi Puja Muhurat, Golden Annapurna Darshan, Ganga Aarti, Annakut and Dev Deepawali

Quick answer: Diwali 2026 in Varanasi is on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Varanasi is 5:38 PM – 7:35 PM IST, calculated by HinduTone with the Drik Panchang method. Kashi's once-a-year golden Annapurna darshan at the Annapurna temple opened on Dhanteras, Friday 6 November, and runs to Annakut on Tuesday, 10 November, according to news reports. Bhai Dooj is Wednesday, 11 November, Chhath is 13 to 16 November, and Dev Deepawali, when the ghats are lit with lakhs of diyas, is on Tuesday, 24 November.

In Kashi, Diwali is a festival of the Ganga as much as of the home. Families light diyas at their doors and on their rooftops, perform Lakshmi-Ganesh puja at dusk, and many go down to the ghats to float lamps on the river and watch the evening Ganga aarti. Devotees queue for the rare golden form of Mata Annapurna, the goddess who feeds Kashi, and for darshan of Baba Vishwanath. The Bengali neighbourhoods keep Kali Puja the same night, and the festive season builds to Dev Deepawali on Kartik Purnima. This guide covers the dates and times, Annapurna darshan, the ghats, temples, cracker rules and practical tips.

Editor's note (8 November 2026): puja times are HinduTone's own calculation for Varanasi. The Annapurna darshan dates are from news reports by The Statesman, UNI and Hindi media published around Dhanteras 2026; confirm timings with the temple. Dev Deepawali's date is Kartik Purnima, 24 November 2026.

Diwali 2026 dates in Varanasi

The Chaturdashi tithi runs from 10:47 AM on Saturday, 7 November to 11:27 AM on Sunday, 8 November, so many families light their Choti Diwali lamps on Saturday evening, while the Narak Chaturdashi bath falls on Sunday morning. The Amavasya follows at 11:27 AM on Sunday and lasts until 12:31 PM on Monday, 9 November, so Sunday evening is Diwali and Monday morning is the Kartik Amavasya snan and daan. Govardhan Puja and Annakut fall on Tuesday, 10 November.

Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Varanasi

The muhurat is the part of Pradosh Kaal, the period after sunset, when the fixed Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna is rising. Varanasi is east of Delhi, so its window starts about 16 minutes earlier than New Delhi's (5:54 PM – 7:50 PM). For other cities, see Lakshmi Puja muhurat 2026, city-wise.

Golden Annapurna darshan and Annakut

Kashi's Annapurna temple, near Kashi Vishwanath, opens the sanctum of its golden (swarnamayi) Annapurna idol only once a year, for the days from Dhanteras to Annakut. In 2026, news reports said the special darshan would run from Friday, 6 November to Tuesday, 10 November, with general darshan beginning early on Dhanteras morning after the mangla aarti.

• Khazana prasad: the temple distributes the goddess's "khazana" (treasure), coins and grains given as prasad, which many families keep in their lockers and puja rooms for prosperity through the year.
• Annakut, Tuesday 10 November: the temple offers Annakut, a mountain of food; reports said a tableau of laddus would be prepared this year.
• Queues: expect very long queues, especially on Dhanteras and Annakut. Carry as little as possible, as phones and bags are often restricted near the Vishwanath and Annapurna temples.

Confirm the closing time on the final day with the temple before you go. For the goddess's other great festival, see Annapurna Jayanti 2026.

Kashi Vishwanath and other temples

• Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple: one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and the heart of Kashi; the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor is lit for Diwali. Check the temple trust's notices for darshan timings and any changes to aarti or sugam darshan on festival days. See our guide to visiting Kashi Vishwanath.
• Annapurna Temple: a short walk from Vishwanath; see the section above.
• Kaal Bhairav Temple: the "kotwal" (guardian) of Kashi; many devotees take his darshan before Vishwanath's.
• Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple: the much-loved Hanuman temple founded in the tradition of Goswami Tulsidas.
• Durga Kund Temple: the Durga temple by its sacred tank, busy on Amavasya night.
• Tulsi Manas Temple and the New Vishwanath Temple (BHU): popular on Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj family outings.

Diwali on the ghats

• Evening Ganga aarti: the daily aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat begins soon after sunset and lasts about 45 minutes; on Diwali evening many families watch it before or after their home puja. Arrive at least an hour early for a place on the steps, or watch from a boat.
• Deepdaan: devotees float small leaf-cup lamps (deepdaan) on the Ganga on Diwali evening and on the Kartik Amavasya, and many families light lamps on the ghat steps.
• Boats: boat rides at dusk are popular; use registered boats, wear life jackets where provided, and agree the fare in advance.

For the ghats themselves, see the sacred ghats of Kashi.

Kali Puja in Kashi

Varanasi's Bengali community, especially in Bengali Tola near Dashashwamedh, keeps Kali Puja on the night of Sunday, 8 November, with pandals and midnight worship. See Kali Puja 2026 for the night's timings.

Dev Deepawali, 24 November

Fifteen days after Diwali, on Kartik Purnima, Tuesday 24 November 2026, Varanasi celebrates Dev Deepawali, the "Diwali of the gods", when the ghats along the Ganga are lit with lakhs of earthen lamps, the Ganga aarti is especially grand, and fireworks and laser shows light up the river. Boats and riverside hotels are booked weeks in advance. See Dev Deepawali 2026.

Crackers in Varanasi: what applies

As of 8 November 2026 HinduTone has not found a 2026 Varanasi police or district order fixing cracker hours, so the national rules apply:

• Timing: 8 PM to 10 PM on Diwali, under the Supreme Court's 2018 judgment.
• Type: green crackers only, from licensed shops; no barium or joined "series" crackers.
• Where: not within 100 metres of hospitals, schools and courts, and never on the crowded ghats, in the lanes near the temples or near boats.
• Noise: no sound-emitting crackers from 10 PM to 6 AM.

Police in Varanasi have raided unlicensed cracker stocks ahead of the festival. More details are on our Uttar Pradesh firecracker rules 2026 page. For emergencies call 112, and for fire 101.

Markets and shopping

• Vishwanath Gali and Godowlia: puja items, idols of Lakshmi and Ganesha, rudraksha and brassware in the lanes leading to the temple.
• Chowk and Thatheri Bazaar: brass and copper utensils for Dhanteras.
• Banarasi silk: Diwali is a favourite time to buy Banarasi sarees; buy from established weavers' shops and check for the GI tag.
• Sweets: Kashi's sweet shops are packed in Diwali week; order in advance.

The old-city lanes are packed in the evenings. Leave vehicles outside Godowlia and walk, or use e-rickshaws for short distances.

Practical tips

• Weather: early November in Varanasi is pleasant, around 16–30 °C, with cool mornings and evenings on the river.
• Air quality: the air often worsens after Diwali night; keep children, older relatives and anyone with asthma away from heavy bursting.
• Crowds: Dhanteras, Diwali evening, Annakut and Dev Deepawali bring huge crowds to the temples and ghats; keep valuables close and agree a meeting point.
• Safety on the ghats: the steps are steep and crowded after dark; hold children's hands and keep diyas away from clothing.

More Diwali 2026 guides

• Diwali 2026 in Lucknow
• Ayodhya Deepotsav and Diwali 2026 in Uttar Pradesh
• Prayagraj Sangam on Kartik Amavasya 2026
• Diwali 2026 in Kolkata
• Diwali 2026 state-wise in India

Browse every guide on our Diwali 2026 hub.

Frequently asked questions

When is Diwali 2026 in Varanasi?

Sunday, 8 November 2026, with Lakshmi Puja in the evening. Govardhan Puja and Annakut are Tuesday, 10 November and Bhai Dooj Wednesday, 11 November.

What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Varanasi?

5:38 PM to 7:35 PM IST on Sunday, 8 November 2026, calculated by HinduTone with the Drik Panchang method.

When is the golden Annapurna darshan in 2026?

News reports said the golden Annapurna darshan at Kashi's Annapurna temple would run from Dhanteras, 6 November, to Annakut, 10 November 2026. Confirm the timings with the temple.

When is Dev Deepawali 2026 in Varanasi?

Tuesday, 24 November 2026, on Kartik Purnima.

What are the cracker timings in Varanasi for Diwali 2026?

As of 8 November 2026 we have not found a Varanasi order on hours, so the national rule applies: green crackers only, 8 PM to 10 PM on Diwali, and never on the crowded ghats.