Kalabhairav Jayanti 2026 (Kaal Bhairav Ashtami): Date, Ashtami Tithi, Dates Abroad, Puja Vidhi, Katha and Kalashtami List

Quick answer: Kalabhairav Jayanti 2026 (Kaal Bhairav Ashtami) is on Tuesday 1 December 2026 in India. Drik Panchang gives the Krishna Paksha Ashtami from 12:11 AM to 11:13 PM IST on 1 December. Because Bhairava is worshipped at night, the date abroad follows the Ashtami at local midnight: the night of Monday 30 November in the USA, Canada, the UK and the UAE, and Tuesday 1 December in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia (our calculation).

Last updated: 21 October 2026. We have expanded this page with dates abroad, the 2026 Canadian clock rules, a home puja, the story of Bhairava in our own words, the first verse of the Kalabhairava Ashtakam from a verified source, and the Kalashtami dates for November and December.

Kaal Bhairav Jayanti 2026 date and Ashtami tithi (Kalabhairava Ashtami kab hai)

For sunrise, Rahu Kalam and the rest of the day's panchang, see Panchangam for 1 December 2026.

Also read in this season's series: Sabarimala Yatra 2026-27: season dates and deeksha rules, Utpanna Ekadashi 2026, Margashirsha Guruvar and Margasira Lakshmivara Vratam 2026, Vivah Panchami 2026, Subrahmanya Shashti 2026, Gita Jayanti and Mokshada Ekadashi 2026, Datta Jayanti 2026.

Kalabhairav Jayanti 2026 date by country

We use the rule of Ashtami prevailing at local midnight (nishita), which is how Bhairava's night is fixed. Dates abroad are calculated with our ephemeris calculator, which matches Drik to within one or two minutes. Western Canada keeps daylight time in 2026 (BC UTC-7, Alberta UTC-6, Manitoba UTC-5); the US, Ontario and Quebec moved to standard time on 1 November and the UK on 25 October.

In North America and the UK the Ashtami begins on Monday afternoon and ends on Tuesday around midday, so many temples hold the main puja on Monday evening and some on Tuesday morning. Follow your temple's announcement. Do not convert India's clock times into your own time zone.

Who is Kalabhairava?

Kalabhairava is the fierce, protective form of Lord Shiva. 'Kala' means both time and death, and Bhairava means 'the terrible one', the one who removes fear. He is shown dark in colour, carrying a trident, a drum, a noose and a skull-bowl, with a dog as his vahana. He is the Kshetrapala, the guardian deity of a holy place, and in Kashi (Varanasi) he is honoured as its Kotwal, the city's guardian, whose permission pilgrims traditionally seek.

Shaiva tradition speaks of eight Bhairavas (Ashta Bhairava) guarding the directions; Kalabhairava is the best known. In many South Indian Shiva temples a Bhairava shrine stands near the exit, and devotees pray there before leaving.

The story of Bhairava's appearance (Kalabhairava katha)

This is our own summary of a story told in the Shiva Purana and other Shaiva texts; details differ between tellings.

Once, Brahma grew proud and claimed to be the highest of the gods, and his fifth head spoke words of contempt for Shiva. From Shiva's anger a fierce form arose: Kalabhairava. With his fingernail he cut off Brahma's fifth head, humbling his pride. Since Brahma was a creator-god, the act carried the stain of a great sin, and the skull stuck to Bhairava's hand.

Bhairava wandered the worlds as a mendicant, carrying the skull as his begging bowl. Only when he reached Kashi did the skull fall from his hand, at the place remembered as Kapala Mochana, 'release of the skull'. Shiva then made him the guardian of Kashi. The story is read as a lesson that pride, even in a god, is cut down, and that even Bhairava accepted the discipline of penance.

Regional notes: in Varanasi and Ujjain the day is a major temple festival. In Maharashtra and Karnataka, Bhairava (Bhairoba, Bhairavanatha) is a beloved village guardian. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana the day falls in the last week of Karthika Masam, and many Shiva temples hold a special Bhairava puja.

Kalabhairav Jayanti puja vidhi at home

1. Bathe in the morning and keep the day simple. Many devotees fast until the evening puja, or eat one sattvic meal.
2. In the evening or at night, place a picture of Kalabhairava or Shiva, or worship at a Shiva lingam.
3. Light a lamp with mustard oil or sesame oil. Offer black sesame, flowers, bilva leaves, coconut and a simple sweet.
4. Chant 'Om Kalabhairavaya Namah' or 'Om Namah Shivaya', and recite the Kalabhairava Ashtakam or Bhairav Chalisa.
5. Many families keep a night vigil (jagaran) with bhajans, as Bhairava is worshipped at night.
6. Feed a dog, Bhairava's vahana, with chapati or simple food, and give food to someone in need.

Health note: fasting is optional. If you are pregnant, elderly, diabetic, unwell or on medication, eat normally and keep the day with prayer, or ask your doctor before you fast.

Kalabhairava Ashtakam: the first verse

Adi Shankaracharya's Kalabhairava Ashtakam is the hymn most often recited on this day. Its first verse, from the text published by sanskritdocuments.org:

देवराजसेव्यमानपावनांघ्रिपङ्कजं
व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् ।
नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगंबरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ १॥

devarājasevyamānapāvanāṃghripaṅkajaṃ
vyālayajñasūtraminduśekharaṃ kṛpākaram |
nāradādiyogivṛndavanditaṃ digaṃbaraṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje || 1||

Meaning: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi, whose holy lotus feet are served by Indra, king of the gods; who wears a serpent as his sacred thread and the moon on his head; who is full of compassion, praised by Narada and other yogis, and clothed only in the sky. Read the full Kalabhairava Ashtakam with meaning, or the Hindi Bhairav Chalisa.

Kalashtami dates, November-December 2026

See Panchangam for 30 December 2026 for that day's details.

Kalabhairav Jayanti for NRI families

• Monday evening abroad: in North America and the UK, Monday 30 November is a working day. An evening lamp, the Ashtakam and a short aarti after work is a complete observance.
• Temples: many Shiva temples abroad hold Bhairava abhishekam or homam on this day. Check your temple's own website or notice board.
• Oil lamps indoors: use a stable lamp on a metal plate, away from curtains, and keep it in sight. Many apartments have sensitive smoke alarms.
• Feeding dogs: if you have no dog at home, you can donate to an animal shelter in the spirit of the custom.
• For children: tell the story of the proud head being humbled: a story about pride, not about violence.

Kalabhairav Jayanti 2026: frequently asked questions

When is Kalabhairav Jayanti 2026?

Kalabhairav Jayanti 2026 is on Tuesday 1 December 2026 in India, per Drik Panchang. The Krishna Paksha Ashtami tithi begins at 12:11 AM IST on 1 December and ends at 11:13 PM IST the same day.

Is Kaal Bhairav Jayanti on 30 November or 1 December abroad?

Bhairava is worshipped at night, so the day is fixed by the Ashtami that covers local midnight. By our calculation that is the night of Monday 30 November in the USA, Canada, the UK and the UAE, and Tuesday 1 December in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. Many temples abroad hold the main puja on the day they announce, so check with your temple.

Why is Kalabhairava worshipped on Ashtami?

Tradition holds that Bhairava appeared from Shiva on the Krishna Paksha Ashtami of Margashirsha (Kartika in the amanta calendar). Every Krishna Ashtami is therefore kept as Kalashtami, a monthly day of Bhairava worship, and this one is his Jayanti, the yearly appearance day.

What should I offer to Kalabhairava?

Families commonly offer a mustard-oil or sesame-oil lamp, black sesame, flowers, coconut, sweets such as jalebi or imarti in North India, and vadas or curd rice in the South. Feeding a dog, Bhairava's vahana, is a popular custom. Follow your family and temple tradition.

Which are the famous Kaal Bhairav temples?

The best-known are the Kaal Bhairav temple in Varanasi, where Bhairava is honoured as the Kotwal (guardian) of Kashi, and the Kal Bhairav temple in Ujjain. Many Shiva temples in South India have a Bhairava shrine near the exit. Check each temple's official website for current timings.

When are the next Kalashtami dates?

In India, Drik Panchang lists Kalashtami on Sunday 1 November 2026, Tuesday 1 December 2026 (Kalabhairav Jayanti) and Wednesday 30 December 2026.

Editor's note

Editor's note (21 October 2026): We have expanded this page in place. The date, the Ashtami tithi times, nakshatra, sunrise and the Kalashtami list come from Drik Panchang's day panchang for Hyderabad. Dates abroad are calculated with our ephemeris calculator, which matches Drik to within one or two minutes, using the 2026 clock rules for Canada, the USA and the UK. The Sanskrit verse is reproduced from sanskritdocuments.org. The katha is our own summary of a traditional story, customs vary by region and family, and nothing here promises any particular result.

Related guides

• Karthika Masam 2026
• Karthika Somavaram 2026
• Karthika Masam mantras
• How to pray to Lord Kalabhairava: mantras and poojas
• The Kalabhairava temple: guardian of Kashi
• December 2026 vrat and fasting calendar
• December 2026 Hindu festivals