Blog / Best time for Ganga Aarti
Best time to visit Varanasi for the Ganga Aarti
The Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat happens every evening, rain or shine, and it's the one thing almost every visitor to Varanasi wants to see. The timing shifts slightly with the seasons, and knowing it in advance makes the difference between a good seat and a distant view over someone's shoulder.
When the Aarti actually starts
The ceremony begins around 6:45 PM in winter (November to February) and closer to 7:15 PM in summer (April to August), adjusting with sunset. Arriving by boat or on the ghat steps at least 45 minutes early is the only reliable way to get an unobstructed view, since the crowd builds fast on weekends and during festival dates.
Ghat or boat — which is better
Watching from the ghat steps is free and puts you close to the priests and the fire lamps, but you'll be standing shoulder to shoulder with a large crowd. A boat gives you a wider view of all the priests performing in sync, plus the reflections on the water, and is our usual recommendation for first-time visitors.
Best months to visit
October to March brings cooler weather and clearer evenings, which also happens to be peak tourist season — so ghats are busier but the experience is more comfortable. If you'd rather avoid crowds and don't mind heat, April and September are quieter months with the same daily Aarti.
Festival dates worth planning around
Dev Diwali (the full moon evening in November) turns the Aarti into a much larger event with diyas lining every ghat — spectacular, but the busiest evening of the year by far. If you want the calmer version of the same ritual, any regular weekday evening works just as well.
If you'd like us to reserve a boat seat or a specific viewing spot for your dates, message us on WhatsApp and we'll confirm availability before you arrive.