Dev Diwali Boat & Cruise Booking Varanasi 2026
Dev Diwali / Dev Deepawali · 24 November 2026
Dev Diwali Boat & Cruise Booking 2026
4 cruises open for booking this Dev Diwali — pick the one that fits your group and budget.
About Dev Diwali in Varanasi
Dev Diwali (also spelled Dev Deepawali) is celebrated fifteen days after the main Diwali festival, on Kartik Purnima — the full moon of the Hindu month of Kartik. In Varanasi, it is when the city's ghats are transformed: lakhs of oil lamps are lit along the riverfront steps, turning miles of the Ganga's western bank into a single sheet of flickering light. The only way to see the full scale of it is from the water — a private cruise puts you exactly where the view is best, away from the crowds packed onto the ghats themselves.
- Date: 24 November 2026 (Kartik Purnima)
- Illuminated Ghats: the full riverfront, Assi to Panchganga
- Live Ganga Aarti: viewable from the cruise
- Fireworks & Laser Show: Yes, from multiple ghats
🪔 Ghats Illuminated
The illumination stretches across the ghats from the southern end near Assi Ghat through the central ghats - Dashashwamedh, Kedar, Munshi and Darbhanga - up toward Panchganga and the northern ghats, with Dashashwamedh Ghat and the ghats around it typically the most densely lit and most crowded. A cruise lets you take in a long stretch of the illuminated riverfront from the water instead of competing for space on the steps.
🎆 Fireworks & Laser Show
The evening is usually accompanied by fireworks displayed from several points along the ghats, best viewed from the river rather than from directly underneath on land. A laser and light show is also planned this year.
Dev Diwali Boat & Cruise Packages — Seat Pricing
| Boat / Cruise | Date | Adult Price | Child Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Motor Boat | Tue, 24 Nov 2026 | ₹3,499 | ₹2,200 |
| Light Motor Boat | Tue, 24 Nov 2026 | ₹4,499 | ₹2,800 |
| Bajra – Maharaja Ride | Tue, 24 Nov 2026 | ₹9,999 | ₹6,500 |
| Luxury Cruise (AC) | Tue, 24 Nov 2026 | ₹12,500 | ₹8,000 |
Seat Availability — All 65 Seats on the Bajra – Maharaja Ride
65 total seats, 25 currently available. Green seats are open, red seats are already booked for Dev Diwali 24 November 2026.
Seat Availability — All 130 Seats on the Luxury Cruise (AC)
130 total seats, 30 currently available. Green seats are open, red seats are already booked for Dev Diwali 24 November 2026.
Dev Diwali Photo Gallery — Illuminated Ghats & Ganga Aarti
Boat Reporting Points and Timings
- Reporting Point: Dashashwamedh Ghat Boarding Point
- Reporting Time: 03:30 PM (30 minutes before departure)
- Departure Time: 04:00 PM
- Duration: Varies by boat — see pricing table above
Please arrive at the reporting point in good time — Dev Diwali evening sees heavy foot traffic on the ghats, so allow extra time to reach the boarding point.
How to Book Your Dev Diwali Boat or Cruise
Select a sailing above, choose your adult and child seats, and confirm — your seats are reserved the moment your booking is accepted, subject to availability. Given seasonal demand, Dev Diwali sailings carry their own cancellation terms:
Dev Deepawali is our highest-demand night of the year, so cancellations made less than 7 days before the event are non-refundable; cancellations made 7 or more days in advance can be rescheduled to another Dev Deepawali sailing that year, subject to availability. We recommend booking as early as possible once the season's schedules are published.
Dev Diwali Boat Booking FAQs
Pick a cruise category or time slot, choose your date, and submit a booking - for scheduled sailings you will see live seat availability and pricing instantly. For celebration packages (birthday, anniversary, wedding, etc.) we confirm availability and a final quote with you over WhatsApp or phone before the booking is locked in.
Cancellation and rescheduling terms depend on how much notice you give and whether any add-ons (decoration, catering, musician) had already been arranged on your behalf. Full details are on our Cancellation Policy page, and we confirm the specific terms with you at the time of booking.
Seat availability updates live as bookings come in - a sailing shows as sold out the moment it reaches capacity. If you do not see a slot you want listed, message us on WhatsApp and we will check the latest availability across the fleet.
The base price covers your seat on the cruise, life jackets for every guest and an experienced boatman. Decoration, cake, photography, videography and musicians are all optional add-ons priced separately, shown on each cruise or package page.
Yes, life jackets are provided for every guest on every cruise. Please ask your boatman if they have not been offered before departure.
We accept cash on arrival as well as UPI and other common digital payment methods. The exact payment method and any advance amount required will be confirmed with you at the time of booking.
Reserve Your Dev Diwali Cruise
Seats sell out early for Dev Diwali — message us on WhatsApp with your preferred date and group size, or book online above.