Kali Chaudas 2026 in Gujarat: Date, Night Puja to Mahakali and Hanuman, and How It Differs from Narak Chaturdashi

Quick answer: Kali Chaudas 2026 falls on the night of Saturday 7 November 2026 in India, by our calculation. It is the night before Diwali. In Gujarati homes, people worship Mahakali, and often Hanuman, to remove fear and negative influences from the home. Narak Chaturdashi, the morning bath festival, is on Sunday 8 November 2026 in India (Drik).

This guide has been restored at its original hindutone.com address. The Kali Chaudas date comes from the HinduTone calculator, which we have checked against Drik Panchang to within one or two minutes. It is marked 'calculated'. Please confirm it on Drik Panchang for your city.

Kali Chaudas 2026 date and tithi

We do not list muhurat clock times for the night puja. For timings in your city, check Drik Panchang.

What is Kali Chaudas?

'Kali Chaudas' means the dark (kali) fourteenth (chaudas). It is the Krishna Chaturdashi of the month, the night before the new moon of Diwali. In Gujarati it is often written Kaali Chaudas. The darkest nights of the month are seen as a time when negative forces are strong. So the night is used to pray for protection, to remove fear and laziness, and to clean the home, in body and in spirit, before Lakshmi is welcomed on Diwali.

Mahakali is the fierce form of the Divine Mother. As commonly told, she destroys evil and protects her devotees. Worshipping her on this night is a way of asking her to remove darkness from one's life. Hanuman is also widely worshipped, because he is seen as the protector against fear and evil spirits. Some traditions also mark Hanuman's birth on this Chaturdashi.

Kali Chaudas 2026 in Gujarati households

Customs vary from family to family. The following are commonly practised in Gujarat and in Gujarati homes abroad:

• Cleaning the home: The house is cleaned and decorated before Diwali. Rangoli is drawn and lamps are lit.
• Mahakali puja: A lamp is lit before an image of Mahakali. Red flowers, kumkum and sweets are offered, and prayers or the Mahakali aarti are sung.
• Hanuman puja: Many people visit a Hanuman temple. Offerings of oil, sindoor and flowers are common, and the Hanuman Chalisa is recited.
• Kuldevi and Bhairava: Some families worship their kuldevi or Bhairava on this night, as their family custom requires.
• Protection customs: In many homes, food such as vada is prepared, and a small portion is placed at a crossroads at night to ward off negative influences. Some families also do a simple rite against the evil eye (nazar). These customs are part of folk practice and differ widely.
• Rest before Diwali: In many homes it is a quieter night, as the family prepares for Diwali the next day.

Some practitioners of tantra see this night as important for their sadhana. Such practices should be done only under a qualified guru. For most families, simple prayer and a lamp are the heart of the day.

How Kali Chaudas differs from Narak Chaturdashi

Both are linked to the Krishna Chaturdashi before Diwali. The difference is the time of day that matters:

In 2026 the Chaturdashi begins on the morning of 7 November and ends late on the morning of 8 November. So the night falls on 7 November, while the sunrise falls on 8 November. This is why the two observances are on different days this year. In India, Drik Panchang lists Narak Chaturdashi together with Diwali and Lakshmi Puja on Sunday 8 November. See our Naraka Chaturdashi 2026 guide.

Kali Chaudas in the Gujarati Diwali week

For Gujarati families, Diwali is a chain of special days. In 2026 the sequence in India is: Vagh Baras on Thursday 5 November (calculated), Dhanteras on Friday 6 November (Drik), Kali Chaudas on the night of Saturday 7 November (calculated), Diwali with Chopda Pujan on Sunday 8 November (Drik), and the Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas) on Tuesday 10 November (Drik). Labh Pancham follows later in the same week. See Diwali in Gujarat: Kali Chaudas, Chopda Pujan and New Year and Gujarati New Year 2026.

Kali Chaudas for NRI families

• Check your local date: The night when Chaturdashi prevails can differ outside India. Check Drik Panchang for your city. Do not convert India's times.
• Simple home puja: Light a lamp before Mahakali or Hanuman, recite the Hanuman Chalisa and offer a sweet.
• Temple visit: Many Hindu temples abroad have a Hanuman shrine. Check your temple's own website or notice board for Diwali-week plans.
• Fire safety: Keep lamps away from curtains, and follow local rules on candles and fireworks.
• Fasting: If you fast, keep it light. Anyone who is pregnant, unwell, diabetic or on regular medicine should speak to a doctor first.

Frequently asked questions

When is Kali Chaudas 2026?

Kali Chaudas 2026 is on the night of Saturday 7 November 2026 in India, by our calculation. Chaturdashi runs from about 10:49 AM IST on 7 November to about 11:27 AM IST on 8 November, so it prevails at the midnight of 7 November. Please confirm on Drik Panchang for your city.

Is Kali Chaudas the same as Narak Chaturdashi?

Both are linked to the same Chaturdashi tithi, but they are kept at different times. Kali Chaudas is a night observance, so it follows the Chaturdashi at midnight: Saturday 7 November 2026. Narak Chaturdashi is a morning observance with an early bath, so it follows the Chaturdashi at sunrise: Sunday 8 November 2026 in India (Drik).

Which deity is worshipped on Kali Chaudas?

Mahakali is the main deity in many Gujarati homes. Many families also worship Hanuman, and some worship Bhairava or their kuldevi (family goddess). Customs vary by family and community.

Is Kali Chaudas also Masik Shivaratri?

Yes. In 2026 the same night is Masik Shivaratri, the monthly Shivaratri on Krishna Chaturdashi (calculated). Some devotees also worship Shiva on this night.

Is Kali Chaudas the same as Kali Puja in Bengal?

No. Bengal's Kali Puja is a different festival held on the Amavasya night. Drik Panchang lists Kali Puja on Sunday 8 November 2026, the same day as Diwali.

Do NRIs keep Kali Chaudas on the same date?

Not always. The night on which Chaturdashi prevails can differ outside India. Check Drik Panchang for your city. Do not convert India's times.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. The Kali Chaudas date and Chaturdashi span are from the HinduTone calculator, validated against Drik Panchang, and are marked 'calculated'. Other dates are from Drik Panchang for New Delhi. Times are in IST only. We have not listed muhurat clock times. Customs are described as commonly practised, and they vary between families.

Related guides

• November 2026 Hindu festival calendar
• Diwali in Gujarat: Kali Chaudas, Chopda Pujan and New Year
• Naraka Chaturdashi 2026
• Vasu Baras (Vagh Baras) 2026
• Labh Panchami 2026
• Kali Puja 2026 in West Bengal
• November 2026 vrat calendar