Ganga Mahotsav (गंगा महोत्सव) is a eagerly awaited tourist-centric festival (त्यौहार – Tyauhar) in Varanasi, the ancient and spiritual city of India. The city of Varanasi which is very famous for being spiritual center of India, its ghats and holy river Ganges. It is located in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pardesh. This festival is celebrated over a period of five days every year which starts from Prabodhani Ekadashi to Kartik Poornima (Full moon) during the months of Kartika of Hindu calender (around October and November). The festival is a platform (मंच – Manch) to showcases the rich cultural heritage (परंपरा – Parampara) of Varanasi and its connection with the most sacred river for Hindus, the Ganges.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idZBRen21jw

Many national and international artists (कलाकार – Kalakar) participate in the festival events to showcases their talents in popular cultural programs, classical music, martial arts etc. The festival also includes a country boat race, a daily shilp mela (arts and crafts fair), sculpture displays etc. On the last day of festival (Kartik Poornima), which coincides with the traditional Dev Deepawali (light festival of the Gods), the ghats on the Ganga River glitters with innumerable lit-up floating earthen lamps, which are lit by devotees creating a mystic and splendid view on the full moon night (रात्रि – Ratri).

The festival is a excellent place to experience the Indian folk arts, cuisine, culture, spirituality and mysticism.