How to experience Dev Diwali

If you wish to know how to experience Dev Diwali, begin with visiting the 80+ ghats of Varanasi, the heart of this grand celebration. Thousands of diyas (oil lamps) illuminate the steps, creating a striking visual. You can walk along the ghats to witness the scale of devotion as locals and pilgrims perform rituals and offer prayers to the Ganges. What defines the essence of Dev Diwali is the glow of the lamps, along with the sound of bells and chants.

One of the highlights of Dev Diwali is the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. As the sun goes down, a group of priests takes their place on raised platforms, moving in perfect sync as they go through the ritual. They offer prayers to the river with rows of lit lamps, thick curls of incense smoke, and religious chants. Locals and travellers gather along the steps of the ghat, some enjoy the show from their boats, drawn in by the steady rhythm of the ceremony. The clang of bells, the call of conch shells, and the sweeping gestures all come together in a way that leaves a mark. 

How to experience Dev Diwali in a way that feels both grounded and unforgettable? One way is to take a quiet Dev Diwali boat ride on the Ganges during the evening celebrations. As the boat ride begins, you get to witness the lit up ghats with rows upon rows of diyas, tiny oil lamps placed carefully along the steps of every ghat. Every so often, you can hear the distant sound of a conch shell or temple bell, but mostly, it’s just the sound of the oars and the water. It’s a side of Dev Diwali that not everyone gets to see: less about the crowd and more about the stillness, the light, and the way the city seems to hold its breath, just for a moment. 

Right inside the Vishwanath Gali, Kashi Vishwanath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, people from all over make their way there to offer prayers to Lord Shiva. The temple is lit up for the festival, and there are a lot of rituals happening from morning till late at night. Devotees line up with diyas, chant, and take part in traditions that have been followed for years. It’s crowded, loud, and full of energy, but at the same time moving in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve been there.

During Dev Deepawali, while the lit ghats draw most of the attention, there’s a lot of cultural activity happening around the city. Classical music, dance, and other traditional performances take place in courtyards, temple grounds, and open streets. These aren’t large productions or trained professionals, just honest efforts by local artists keeping long-held practices going. If you’re in town for the festival and thinking about how to experience Dev Diwali, then catching a few of these performances is highly recommended.

Also Checkout: Tip to Visit Dev Diwali

The markets in Varanasi get more crowded during Dev Diwali. Lanes fill up with stalls selling clay lamps, garlands, and other festival items. It’s busy and often slow to move through, but people know their way around. Most come for what they need, nothing fancy, just the usual things for the evening rituals. Along the way, the smell of food pulls you in. Kachauris are fried fresh, jalebis are stacked hot and sticky, and if it’s early enough, someone might be out with Malaiyo, scooped straight into small kulhads and gone not long after.

If you ask how to experience Dev Diwali in a more meaningful way, joining a guided walk can help make sense of what’s happening around you. Going with someone local often means you’ll hear stories that aren’t in guidebooks, things passed down or picked up by living in the city. As you move through the old lanes or along the ghats, they’ll point out the meaning behind different rituals, why certain temples matter more during this time, and how these practices have changed or stayed the same over the years. It brings some structure to the chaos and helps you follow what’s going on without feeling lost in it.

The Sankat Mochan Temple, dedicated to Lord Hanuman, is an important place for many in Varanasi. During Dev Diwali, the temple sees an increase in visitors, with thousands of devotees coming to pray and participate in rituals honouring the deity. From early morning, the temple is alive with chants, offerings, and devotional music. Visiting the temple during Dev Deepawali gives a deeper understanding of the religious significance of the festival, beyond the lights and lamps along the ghats. It’s an opportunity to see the devotion of the local community and experience how the rituals are an integral part of the celebrations.

One of the most meaningful ways to understand how to experience Dev Diwali is by spending time with the people who celebrate it every year, the locals of Varanasi. Speaking with shopkeepers, boatmen, temple volunteers, or even families lighting diyas outside their homes gives you a different perspective on the festival. Many are open to sharing stories, explaining traditions, and talking about what Dev Diwali means to them personally. These conversations often go beyond what you’ll find in guidebooks or tours, they give you a glimpse into everyday beliefs, the effort that goes into the preparations, and the pride people take in keeping these customs alive. It’s through these simple interactions that the festival takes on a deeper meaning and becomes more than just something you’ve experienced.