Kashi Gears Up for Ganga Mahotsav 2025

Before the ghats of Kashi come alive with the glow of Dev Deepawali, the city will host another grand spectacle the Ganga Mahotsav 2025, a celebration of India’s art, rhythm, and spiritual heritage. Scheduled from November 1 to 4, the festival will turn the ghats of Varanasi into a living canvas of culture and devotion.

Four Days of Music, Dance, and Devotion Before Dev Deepawali

Organized by the Uttar Pradesh government, the Mahotsav will unfold mainly at Rajghat and Namo Ghat, bringing together artists from across India. From classical maestros to folk performers, every evening will blend melody, movement, and meditation. As Joint Director of Tourism Dinesh Kumar described, it’s a festival of songs, music, dance, and instruments a tribute to India’s cultural soul.

Day-wise Schedule

November 1:
The festival opens with a Kathak duet by Pandit Mata Prasad Mishra and Pandit Ravi Shankar Mishra. Classical renditions by Dr. Ripi Mishra, Vidushi Kamala Shankar (slide guitar), and Pandit Naval Kishore Mallik will follow. Adding a regional flavor, Ravi Sharma and group will present Braj folk music, capturing the rustic pulse of Uttar Pradesh.

November 2:
The second evening offers a soulful mix of strings and rhythm. Prof. Pandit Sahitya Nahar and Dr. Pandit Santosh Nahar will perform a sitar-violin jugalbandi, followed by a Bharatanatyam recital from Padmashree Geeta Chandran. Classical vocals by Shivani Shukla, Vandana Mishra, and Rajkumar Tiwari will set a meditative mood, concluding with Om Prakash’s devotional bhajans.

November 3:
A celebration of folk energy and classical grace. Padmashree Malini Awasthi headlines the day with her vibrant North Indian folk songs. The stage will also feature Vishal Krishna’s Kathak, Chetan Joshi on flute, and Vidushi Kavita Dwivedi’s Odissi dance, offering a seamless blend of regional and classical traditions.

November 4:
The finale will be a spiritual crescendo. Bhajan singer Hansraj Raghuvanshi will lead the evening with his devotional music, expected to draw massive crowds. The night will also feature Dr. Shubhankar Dey’s classical vocals, a sitar sarod jugalbandi by Dr. Prem Kishore Mishra and group, and a Kathak group performance by Shivani Mishra.

As lamps flicker along the ghats and music drifts across the Ganga, Kashi will once again affirm its place as the cultural heart of India. The Ganga Mahotsav isn’t just a prelude to Dev Deepawali it’s a reminder that in this ancient city, art and devotion flow together, like the river itself.