The evening Ganga Aarti follows sunset, so its time changes with the season. Here are the month-wise timings and the morning Aarti at Assi Ghat.
The famous evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat starts shortly after sunset every day of the year. Because sunset moves through the seasons, the start time is earlier in winter and later in summer. Timings below are approximate — always arrive early.
| Month | Approx. Aarti Start | Arrive By |
|---|---|---|
| October – March | ≈ 5:45 PM | ≈ 5:00 PM |
| April – September | ≈ 6:45 PM | ≈ 6:00 PM |
The Aarti lasts about 45 minutes. On festival days such as Ganga Dussehra, Kartik Purnima and Dev Diwali the ceremony is grander and the ghats get packed, so plan to arrive at least an hour ahead.
A morning Aarti is held at Assi Ghat at dawn as part of Subah-e-Banaras, together with chanting, music and yoga. It starts before sunrise, so it is earlier in summer and later in winter.
The main Aarti is at Dashashwamedh Ghat; a smaller one takes place at Assi Ghat. You can watch from the steps or from a boat on the river. Compare them in best ghat for the Ganga Aarti, or book a boat for the Dashashwamedh Aarti.
The Aarti continues every evening even during floods, but may move to higher steps or rooftops. Boat rides can be suspended then — see our monsoon guide.
Last updated: 8 October 2026 · All Varanasi guides
