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Kaal Bhairav Jayanti dates (Kalashtami)

When Kaal Bhairav Jayanti (Kālāṣṭamī) falls in 2026, 2027 and 2028: the fast day by the Aṣṭamī at midday, or at pradoṣa in the Dharmasindhu’s one case, for Delhi and cities abroad.

Next Kālāṣṭamī in Delhi

Tuesday, 1 December 2026

Kālāṣṭamī is in 44 days. In Delhi, the Aṣṭamī covers all of Tuesday’s midday and none of Monday’s, so Kālāṣṭamī is on Tuesday.

Midday11:07 – 13:12
AṣṭamīTue 00:12 – 23:14
Kaal Bhairav Jayanti 2026: every city and why

Every monthly Kalashtami: Kalashtami 2026

Kaal Bhairav Jayanti dates, 2026 to 2028

Each city’s own time
YearDelhiLondonNew York CitySydney
Kaal Bhairav Jayanti 2026 Tue 1 Dec Midday 11:07 – 13:12 Tue 1 Dec Midday 11:00 – 12:38 Mon 30 Nov Pradoṣa 16:28 – 19:22 Tue 1 Dec Midday 11:19 – 14:09
Kaal Bhairav Jayanti 2027 Sat 20 Nov Pradoṣa 19:17 – 20:05 Sat 20 Nov Pradoṣa 16:03 – 19:08 Sat 20 Nov Midday 10:43 – 12:39 Sun 21 Nov Midday 11:17 – 14:04
Kaal Bhairav Jayanti 2028 Thu 9 Nov Pradoṣa 17:29 – 20:07 Thu 9 Nov Midday 10:49 – 12:38 Thu 9 Nov Midday 10:39 – 12:40 Fri 10 Nov Midday 11:17 – 14:01

Each year’s page lists all 16 cities and why each keeps its day. Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 313; Dharmasindhu p. 84

Questions

From the Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 313; Dharmasindhu p. 84, with the page for each.

When is Kaal Bhairav Jayanti?

In Delhi: Tuesday, 1 December 2026, Saturday, 20 November 2027 and Thursday, 9 November 2028. Each city keeps its own day by its own sunrise and sunset. Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 313; Dharmasindhu p. 84

Is it the same as Kalashtami?

Yes. The texts call the day Kālāṣṭamī, the dark Aṣṭamī that ends amānta Kārtika (Mārgaśīrṣa in the pūrṇimānta reckoning). The Dharmasindhu calls it Bhairava-jayantī, and the Nirṇaya-sindhu tells of Bhairava’s birth on it. Dharmasindhu p. 10; Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 313

Which day is the fast, and which night is the vigil?

The fast is kept on the day whose midday the Aṣṭamī covers, since Bhairava was born at midday, and when it covers midday on both days, the earlier day is kept. When the Aṣṭamī holds only the earlier day’s pradoṣa and only the later day’s midday, the Dharmasindhu takes the pradoṣa day, following the conduct of many learned people. For the night vigil alone, the Nirṇaya-sindhu takes the Aṣṭamī touching the night, which can be another day. Nirṇaya-sindhu pp. 312⁠–⁠313; Dharmasindhu p. 84

Why is the date different in the US or UK?

Kaal Bhairav Jayanti is decided by the Aṣṭamī at midday or pradoṣa at the city. The tithi begins and ends at the same moment everywhere, but sunrise and sunset come at different hours, so a city far to the west or east can keep another day. Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 313; Dharmasindhu p. 84

How the day is found

Read the methodology
The day
The dark Aṣṭamī ending amānta Kārtika, covering midday. When it covers midday on both days, the earlier day is kept, and on neither, the day whose sunrise it holds (our reading). Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 313. When it holds only the earlier day’s pradoṣa and only the later day’s midday, the pradoṣa day is kept (Dharmasindhu p. 84).
Midday
The third fifth of the daytime (Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 28).
Pradoṣa
The three muhūrtas after sunset. The Dharmasindhu decides by it in the one case above, following the conduct of many learned people (p. 84). The Kaustubha’s rule, which it reports, is shown when the Aṣṭamī covers neither midday.
Sunrise and sunset
At the centre of the Sun’s disc, with refraction, for the chosen city. Every date is that city’s own.

Sunrise and sunset at the centre of the Sun’s disc, with refraction · Lahiri ayanamsa for month names · each city’s own time · Swiss Ephemeris · Method