Welcome to Varanasi Festivals

Makara Sankranti

falls on a freezing january day, yet all they ghats are crowded with worshippers as it is a particularly auspicious day to bathe in the Ganga. Local People celebrate the festival by eating khhichri (a rice and lentil dish) and a special sesame seed sweet. And the sky is dotted with colorful flying kites by late morning, every available open space is taken over by young men and boys excitedly battling over each others kites. from the muddy river hank near Assi Ghat to the wide steps of the ghats, now almost emptied of the early morning bathers, to the many terraces in the Pukka Mahal. all ring with shrill cries of Bhokatta, as someone's kite is downed.

Basant Panchami

Celebrates the arrival of spring or Basant. Women and children wear yellow clothes and offer yellow flowers, especially the first blossoms of the mango tree, to Saraswati, the goddess of learning and music.

Maha Shivaralri

is, literally, the Great Night of Shiva. Celebrated on a moonless night in the month of Phalgun (February-March), it is the most important of all Varanasi's festivals, It celebrates the marriage of Shiva to goddess Parvati and a huge wedding procession called shiva baraat winds its way through the city's streets. People fast all day and keep vigil all night.
Every shiva temple, wayside shrine and solitary linga is covered with flowers bilva leaves and sandalwood paste. the crowds are deepest at Vishwanath and Kedareshwar temples and the narrow lanes leading to these temples are a solid mass of people from dawn to midnigh.

Rangbhari Ekadashi

is lord Vishwanath's day for shringara or dressing . the linga is decorated with a four-faced silver covering, decorated with flowers, leaves, sandalwood paste, and vermilion powder.

Holi

is the day when the city is caught up in a bacchanalia of colour, intoxicants, music and dance. This is the day to drink Thandai and eat sweets and savories laced with bluing, a derivative of cannabis. it is safer for visitors not to venture out on holi as the revelry often gets out of hand On this day, there is also a fair at Chausatti Ghat to honour the 64 yogini or female divinities particular to Varanasi.

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