Sunday 1 November 2026: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Kartik Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 2:52 PM, 1 November
- Ashtami ends
- 1:11 PM, 2 November
Kalashtami Dates 2026 and 2027: All Dates and Times
Kalashtami is the monthly day of Kala Bhairava, on the eighth tithi of the waning moon, kept on the evening the Ashtami holds. Every Kalashtami of the year is listed below with its tithi times.
Times for New Delhi (IST).
Upcoming Kalashtami dates
Tuesday 1 December 2026: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Margashirsha Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 12:12 AM, 1 December
- Ashtami ends
- 11:15 PM, 1 December
Wednesday 30 December 2026: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Paush Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 12:37 PM, 30 December
- Ashtami ends
- 12:33 PM, 31 December
Friday 29 January 2027: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Magh Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 4:04 AM, 29 January
- Ashtami ends
- 4:59 AM, 30 January
Sunday 28 February 2027: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Phalgun Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 9:55 PM, 27 February
- Ashtami ends
- 11:47 PM, 28 February
Monday 29 March 2027: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Chaitra Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 5:12 PM, 29 March
- Ashtami ends
- 7:41 PM, 30 March
Wednesday 28 April 2027: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Vaishakh Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 12:31 PM, 28 April
- Ashtami ends
- 3:02 PM, 29 April
Friday 28 May 2027: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Jyeshtha Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 6:27 AM, 28 May
- Ashtami ends
- 8:21 AM, 29 May
Sunday 27 June 2027: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Ashadh Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 9:52 PM, 26 June
- Ashtami ends
- 10:45 PM, 27 June
Monday 26 July 2027: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Shravan Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 10:25 AM, 26 July
- Ashtami ends
- 10:13 AM, 27 July
Tuesday 24 August 2027: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Bhadrapad Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 8:25 PM, 24 August
- Ashtami ends
- 7:21 PM, 25 August
Thursday 23 September 2027: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Ashwin Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 4:37 AM, 23 September
- Ashtami ends
- 2:58 AM, 24 September
Friday 22 October 2027: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Kartik Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 11:56 AM, 22 October
- Ashtami ends
- 10:00 AM, 23 October
Saturday 20 November 2027: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Margashirsha Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 7:18 PM, 20 November
- Ashtami ends
- 5:20 PM, 21 November
Monday 20 December 2027: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Paush Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 3:34 AM, 20 December
- Ashtami ends
- 1:53 AM, 21 December
About Kalashtami
Kalashtami, also called Kala Ashtami, falls every month on Krishna Ashtami, the eighth tithi of the waning fortnight. It is kept for Kala Bhairava, a form of Shiva worshipped as the guardian of temples, towns and households, and as the keeper of time itself. Devotees turn to him for protection, discipline and steady courage, and many keep the day every month as a quiet vow.
Bhairava's worship belongs to the evening and the night, and so the day is chosen by the evening: Kalashtami is kept on the date whose evening and night have Ashtami present. When the tithi begins in the afternoon, the vrat falls on that same day even if the morning belonged to Saptami. When the evening rule points to two days, the list gives the one most widely kept.
The Kalashtami of Margashirsha (Kartik in the amanta calendar) is the great one, Kalabhairav Jayanti, the day Bhairava is believed to have appeared. Bhairava temples, from Kashi to Ujjain, draw large crowds that day, and his shrine is visited by devotees through the night. The other Kalashtamis are quieter monthly days kept at home and in local temples.
Many keep a fast through the day and do the puja after sunset. Bhairava is offered a lamp of mustard oil, black sesame, flowers and simple sweets, and his names or a stotra in his praise are recited. The dog is honoured as Bhairava's companion, so feeding dogs is a loved part of the day, and many people also give food to anyone in need. The fast is broken after the evening puja.
Each row in the list below shows the date, the moment Ashtami begins and ends, and the evening puja window for your city.
How it is observed
- Bathe in the morning and take a quiet resolve to keep the Kalashtami vrat.
- Keep a light fast through the day, as your health allows.
- After sunset, light a mustard oil lamp for Bhairava and offer flowers, black sesame and sweets.
- Recite Bhairava's names or a stotra in his praise.
- Feed dogs and share food with those in need, then break the fast.
Earlier Kalashtami dates
Saturday 10 January 2026: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Magh Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 8:24 AM, 10 January
- Ashtami ends
- 10:21 AM, 11 January
Monday 9 February 2026: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Phalgun Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 5:02 AM, 9 February
- Ashtami ends
- 7:28 AM, 10 February
Wednesday 11 March 2026: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Chaitra Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 1:55 AM, 11 March
- Ashtami ends
- 4:20 AM, 12 March
Friday 10 April 2026: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Vaishakh Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 9:20 PM, 9 April
- Ashtami ends
- 11:16 PM, 10 April
Saturday 9 May 2026: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Jyeshtha Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 2:04 PM, 9 May
- Ashtami ends
- 3:07 PM, 10 May
Monday 8 June 2026: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Adhik Jyeshtha Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 3:25 AM, 8 June
- Ashtami ends
- 3:24 AM, 9 June
Tuesday 7 July 2026: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Ashadh Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 1:26 PM, 7 July
- Ashtami ends
- 12:22 PM, 8 July
Wednesday 5 August 2026: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Shravan Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 8:43 PM, 5 August
- Ashtami ends
- 6:53 PM, 6 August
Friday 4 September 2026: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Bhadrapad Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 2:26 AM, 4 September
- Ashtami ends
- 12:14 AM, 5 September
Also this day: Janmashtami
Saturday 3 October 2026: Kalashtami
- Tithi
- Ashwin Krishna Ashtami
- Ashtami begins
- 8:00 AM, 3 October
- Ashtami ends
- 5:52 AM, 4 October