Banaras Guides
Saptarishi Aarti at Kashi Vishwanath: Timings, Meaning & How to Attend (2026 Guide)
Saptarishi Aarti at Kashi Vishwanath: Timings, Meaning & How to Attend (2026 Guide)
A practical guide from the Kashi with Anshu journal — written for those who want to arrive prepared. For the immersive version of Banaras, in our company: by application only, intimate editions of ten seekers.
Of the five aartis performed each day at the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the Saptarishi Aarti is the one most first-time visitors are told not to miss. It falls in the evening, and it is unlike the others in one striking way: it is performed not by one priest, but by seven, moving together.
What it is
Saptarishi means "seven sages." Seven priests, each from a different lineage, worship Lord Shiva at the same moment, lamps and mantras moving in synchrony. By long-held belief, the seven sages themselves return each evening to offer this worship, and the priests stand in their place. Where a single priest offers devotion alone, here seven offer it as one.
Timings
It is held every evening, beginning around 7:00 PM and continuing until roughly 8:30 PM. It sits in a fixed daily sequence of five aartis: the pre-dawn Mangala Aarti, the midday Bhog Aarti, the evening Saptarishi Aarti, the Shringar Aarti later at night, and the Shayan Aarti before the temple rests. Timings change around festivals, so confirm the current schedule on the official temple portal, shrikashivishwanath.org, before you plan your evening.
How old it is
By tradition, the Saptarishi Aarti has been performed here for around 750 years, evening after evening, without a break.
What you will see
Bells begin, then the conch, then the layered brass lamps rising and circling in time with the chanting. For a few minutes the whole space moves together, light against dark, sound folding over sound. Many describe it as the most visually arresting of the temple's aartis.
How to attend
It is part of the temple's regular daily schedule. Entry and any ticketing for aarti participation vary and are periodically revised, so check shrikashivishwanath.org for current booking and fees rather than third-party listings. If you are planning darshan around the aarti, our Kashi Vishwanath darshan guide covers timings, booking, and entry in full.
- Arrive early. The evening aarti draws a crowd; reaching the complex well before 7 PM gives you a clearer view.
- Dress modestly and traditionally.
- Leave devices behind. Phones, cameras, and smartwatches are not permitted inside the sanctum; lockers are at the entrance, and footwear is removed at the gate.
- Expect more crowds on Shravan, Mahashivratri, and Purnima evenings.
Witnessing it without the chaos
On the Kashi with Anshu immersion, this aarti falls on the third evening, and we witness it together, with someone beside you who knows where to stand and what each movement of the lamps is saying. You can read about the four-day journey here.
Frequently asked
What time is the Saptarishi Aarti at Kashi Vishwanath?
It begins around 7:00 PM each evening and runs until about 8:30 PM. Confirm current timings on the official temple portal before your visit.
Why is it performed by seven priests?
It is named for the Saptarishi, the seven sages of Vedic tradition. Seven priests of different lineages perform it together, offering worship as one rather than singly.