Ganga Mahotsav at Namo Ghat from 20 to 23 November with four evenings of culture

VARANASI: The Ganga Mahotsav will be held at Namo Ghat from 20 to 23 November, with a cultural evening on each of the four days, leading into Dev Deepawali on 24 November, the day of Kartik Purnima.

For residents and pilgrims, the Mahotsav is the cultural opening of Kartik Purnima week on the riverfront. Officials reviewing the preparations said local artists are to be given priority on the stage, so the evenings should give Banaras's own performers a large share of the programme.

When and where: Namo Ghat, every evening from 20 to 23 November. The list of artists and the starting time of the programmes have not been announced yet, so check the organisers' latest notice before setting out.

If you are travelling in: according to the tourism department, most hotels, guest houses and homestays in the city are already fully booked between 18 and 28 November because of Dev Deepawali, so confirm a place to stay before you travel. Parking has been arranged at 31 places within the city for Dev Deepawali.

We have already reported the main Dev Deepawali arrangements; what is new is that the dates and the venue of the Ganga Mahotsav are now fixed.

Details are from the state administration's review of festival preparations, as reported by Business Standard and Janwarta on 12 and 13 November.