Kashi Vishwanath begins daily Deepmala shringar at Saptarishi Aarti till Kartik Purnima

The Shri Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi began a daily Deepmala shringar, an adornment of the deity with rows of lit lamps, on Monday, October 26, 2026. The temple's announcement, reported the same day, said the lamp adornment will be offered every evening during the Saptarishi Aarti and will continue until Kartik Purnima, the full-moon day that closes the month of Kartik. Reports said the sanctum is being decorated with hundreds of lamps along with flower garlands for the occasion.

In Hindu tradition, Kartik is regarded as one of the holiest months of the year, and lamps are central to it. By tradition, devotees light lamps at home, in temples and on riverbanks through the month, an act known as deepdaan, the offering of light. The custom reaches its peak in Varanasi on Kartik Purnima, when the city marks Dev Deepawali and the ghats along the Ganga are lined with lamps. The temple's daily Deepmala shringar brings that month-long custom into the sanctum itself, so that each evening's worship carries the light that the season is known for.

The Saptarishi Aarti is one of the best-known daily rituals at Kashi Vishwanath. Its name refers to the seven sages, the Saptarishis, of Hindu tradition. It is held in the evening and draws large numbers of devotees, and the temple sells tickets for places at it. Adding a lamp adornment to this particular aarti means the new arrangement will be seen by the largest evening gathering of the day.

For visitors, the practical point is timing and crowds. The month between Diwali and Kartik Purnima is one of the busiest periods in Varanasi's calendar, and the evening aarti hours are when queues are longest. Those planning a visit should check the temple trust's official website or helpline for the day's aarti times and booking rules before travelling, since the trust adjusts arrangements for festivals and full-moon days.

The Deepmala, with its rows of small flames, is among the simplest forms of adornment and also among the oldest forms of worship in Indian temples, where the waving and offering of lamps lies at the heart of aarti itself.

Short-term: Devotees attending the evening Saptarishi Aarti over the coming weeks will see the deity adorned with lamps each day, and evening crowds at the temple may be heavy through the month.

Long-term: Seasonal shringar of this kind strengthens the link between the temple's daily worship and the festival calendar of Varanasi, which culminates in Dev Deepawali on the ghats on Kartik Purnima.

Who is affected: Devotees and pilgrims visiting Kashi Vishwanath, residents of Varanasi, the temple trust and local administration that manage crowds, and travellers planning trips around Dev Deepawali.

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