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Kaal Bhairav Jayanti 2026 (Kalashtami)

Kaal Bhairav Jayanti (Kālāṣṭamī) in 2026: the fast day by the Aṣṭamī at midday, when Bhairava was born, or at pradoṣa in the one case the Dharmasindhu decides so, for your city, with the vigil and worship of Kālabhairava.

Kartika (amanta) / Margashirsha (purnimanta), Krishna Ashtami

Kālāṣṭamī in Delhi

Tuesday, 1 December

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
Night vigilTue 17:22 – 23:14

Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 313; Dharmasindhu p. 84

Every monthly Kalashtami: Kalashtami 2026

How the day is chosen

Bhairava was born at midday, so the Aṣṭamī covering midday is kept, 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 decides by pradoṣa, following the conduct of many learned people; this page follows it, and shows the Nirṇaya-sindhu’s midday day beside it. When the Aṣṭamī covers neither midday, the Kaustubha’s pradoṣa day, which the Dharmasindhu reports, is shown where it differs. Midday is the third fifth of the daytime. Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 313; Dharmasindhu p. 84

Monday or Tuesday in Delhi

Delhi time

In Delhi, the Aṣṭamī runs from Tue 00:12 to 23:14: the Aṣṭamī covers all of Tuesday’s midday and none of Monday’s, so Kālāṣṭamī is on Tuesday. Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 313; Dharmasindhu p. 84

The rite

In Delhi, the night vigil is on the night of Tuesday, 1 December, while the Aṣṭamī runs, Tue 17:22 – 23:14: the Aṣṭamī touches both Monday and Tuesday nights in part, so the vigil is on the later night, Tuesday. Nirṇaya-sindhu pp. 312⁠–⁠313

Kaal Bhairav Jayanti 2026 around the world

Each city’s own sunrise and sunset
Monday, 30 November
  • New York CityPradoṣa 16:28 – 19:22
  • TorontoPradoṣa 16:40 – 19:39
Tuesday, 1 December
  • DelhiMidday 11:07 – 13:12
  • MumbaiMidday 11:21 – 13:33
  • KolkataMidday 10:20 – 12:30
  • ChennaiMidday 10:49 – 13:06
  • BengaluruMidday 11:00 – 13:16
  • HyderabadMidday 10:58 – 13:11
  • AhmedabadMidday 11:23 – 13:33
  • PuneMidday 11:17 – 13:29
  • JaipurMidday 11:12 – 13:18
  • LucknowMidday 10:51 – 12:58
  • LondonMidday 11:00 – 12:38
  • SydneyMidday 11:19 – 14:09
  • DubaiMidday 11:03 – 13:11
  • SingaporeMidday 11:41 – 14:05
Why the date differs In Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow, London, Dubai and Singapore, the Aṣṭamī covers Tuesday’s midday and none of Monday’s, so Kālāṣṭamī is on Tuesday. In New York City and Toronto, the Aṣṭamī holds only Monday’s pradoṣa and only Tuesday’s midday; in that case the Dharmasindhu decides by pradoṣa, following the conduct of many learned people, so Kālāṣṭamī is on Monday. In Sydney, the Aṣṭamī covers Tuesday’s midday and none of Wednesday’s, so Kālāṣṭamī is on Tuesday. Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 313; Dharmasindhu p. 84

Other years: Kaal Bhairav Jayanti 2027, Kaal Bhairav Jayanti 2028; all Kaal Bhairav Jayanti dates.

Questions

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

When is Kaal Bhairav Jayanti 2026?

In Delhi, on Tuesday, 1 December 2026, the Kālāṣṭamī fast, with the Aṣṭamī at midday, 11:07 – 13:12. In New York City and Toronto, it is Monday, 30 November. 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. In Delhi in 2026, the fast is on Tuesday, 1 December and the vigil on the night of Tuesday, 1 December: the Aṣṭamī touches both Monday and Tuesday nights in part, so the vigil is on the later night, Tuesday. 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