VARANASI: The Annapurna temple trust announced on Monday, November 2, 2026, that devotees can see the golden idol from Friday, November 6, to Tuesday, November 10. The five day opening at the temple in Vishwanath Galli gives Varanasi families and visiting pilgrims a defined period for planning this annual darshan.
The trust has scheduled treasury prasad distribution for November 6 and Annakoot for November 10. Visitors should confirm the special entry arrangements before travelling to the old city. The announcement establishes the dates but does not publish a separate daily timetable for the golden idol.
The temple's official address is D 9/1, Sri Annapurna Mata Mandir, Gate No 1, Vishwanath Galli. Use that location when seeking directions or asking about access. For enquiries, the trust lists 0542 2392619 and 8795777588 on its contact page.
What the trust has announced
The November 2 festival notice says the golden form is opened annually during the period from Dhanteras to Annakoot. Coins and lava, a form of parched grain, are distributed as prasad. The notice describes their religious significance as a belief associated with the festival.
For Annakoot on November 10, the trust says 108 types of offerings will be presented. The shrine will be decorated with arrangements of fruit, dry fruit and laddus. Distribution of Annakoot prasad is to begin the following day, November 11, according to the same announcement.
Ordinary hours and special darshan are different
The trust's standing darshan information page lists ordinary temple opening hours as 4 am to 10 pm IST. It also describes aartis in the early morning, at noon, at 8:30 pm and at 10 pm. These are the general hours published for the temple, rather than a newly issued festival entry schedule.
That distinction matters for anyone making an early journey specifically to see the golden idol. The dates in the fresh announcement should guide the choice of day, while the day's special access and closing arrangements should be checked with the temple. A general opening time alone does not establish when the special queue will admit its last visitor.
The same standing page describes daily annadanam in the afternoon, when devotees can receive free food at the temple premises. That regular service is separate from the dated treasury distribution and the Annakoot prasad arrangement. Families seeking meal information can ask the trust about the relevant day's service rather than assume that all distributions take place together.
What residents should do
Before leaving, check the trust's latest announcement and use its official contact information for questions about the golden idol queue. Tell accompanying relatives whether the plan is darshan, treasury prasad on November 6 or Annakoot on November 10, since those activities have different dates within the opening period.
People combining the visit with nearby Kashi Vishwanath should also consult that trust's visitor instructions. Its standing advisory identifies Godowlia to Maidagin as a zone where vehicles are not permitted and says assistance through electric carts is available for devotees with disabilities. Allow for the approach through the old city when organising the journey.
The Vishwanath advisory also says lockers are limited and asks visitors to leave unnecessary luggage at home or at their accommodation. It identifies help desks and first aid facilities within Vishwanath Dham. Those facilities belong to that complex; visitors should ask staff for directions when combining visits, rather than assume that assistance points are at the Annapurna entrance.
The Vishwanath trust cautions that entry or exit through Ganga Dwar can be restricted according to river conditions and safety requirements. Anyone planning to approach the combined temple area from the river should check the permitted entrance before setting out and follow the directions of staff at the site.
For other dated local plans, consult the earlier BHU November 3 commemorative programme report, the Rajatalab MEMU service information and the Dashashwamedh Akashdeep observance report. Each concerns its own venue and arrangements.
