The vrat of Kaal Bhairav (Shiva's fierce form), observed on Krishna Paksha Ashtami every month — roughly 12-13 times a year.

Which tithi does Kalashtami fall on?

Krishna Paksha Ashtami, in every amanta month; even if the sunrise tithi reads Saptami, per one published rule the day counts as Kalashtami when Ashtami prevails at night (a single-source explanation, not an ironclad universal rule).

When does Kalashtami fall in 2026?

13 dates — from 10 January to 30 December (see the list above).

How should the Kalashtami vrat be observed?

Bathe, worship and offer to Kaal Bhairav, fast, recite the Kalabhairava Ashtakam, feed milk-curd to a black dog, and often a special night puja.

Why is a black dog fed on Kalashtami?

The dog is regarded as Kaal Bhairav's vahana; feeding it milk, curd, and sweets is the special, distinctive act of this vrat.

Why is Kalashtami puja performed at night?

Kaal Bhairav is regarded as the presiding deity of time (kaal) and night; the nishita-kaal period is believed to be especially auspicious for worship.

Kalashtami (Kaal Bhairav)

Kalashtami is the vrat of Kaal Bhairav (Shiva's fierce form, the "Kotwal of Kashi"), observed on Krishna Paksha Ashtami every month. Kalashtami falls roughly 12-13 times a year (depending on the adhik-masa cycle); the occurrence in the Margashirsha/Kartik month is the annual Kaal Bhairav Jayanti — the most significant of the year — while the remaining 11-12 are the regular monthly Kalashtami, observed in a lighter, more flexible form.

Deity: Kaal Bhairav (Kalabhairava) — the fierce form of Lord Shiva

This year's dates (2026)

Significance

Kaal Bhairav Jayanti comes only once a year (in Margashirsha); the monthly Kalashtami instead offers a Kaal-Bhairav-remembrance opportunity every month, for protection from fear, negativity, and misfortune — an easier rhythm for regular practice, just like Masik Shivratri and Durgashtami.

Kaal Bhairav is regarded as the presiding form of Shiva over fear, time (death), and justice — a protector/kotwal who punishes wrongdoing and shields devotees. Regular Ashtami worship is believed to dispel fear and misfortune (this is a description of belief, not a universal guarantee).

Kaal Bhairav was released from the sin of Brahmahatya at Kashi, and from then on became its guardian — a centuries-old tradition holds that Kaal Bhairav should be visited before Kashi Vishwanath. The full legend is on the Kaal Bhairav Jayanti page.

In Maharashtra, Kaal Bhairav/Bhairavnath is the guardian deity (gramadaivat/kuladevata) of many villages and families (with many Bhairav temples around Satara, Ahmednagar, and Solapur) — the regular monthly Kalashtami keeps this bond alive every month.

The legend

Kalashtami has no separate, standalone legend of its own — it's part of Kaal Bhairav's own origin story, already told in detail on the Kaal Bhairav Jayanti page. In brief: Brahma grew arrogant and disrespected Shiva; to destroy this pride, Kaal Bhairav manifested from Shiva's wrath and severed Brahma's fifth head — this left Bhairav with the sin of Brahmahatya, the skull stuck to his hand. As he wandered and reached Kashi, the sin vanished, and from then on Kaal Bhairav became the guardian of Kashi.

Some versions hold that Kaal Bhairav manifested from Shiva's brow to destroy Brahma's pride, while others say he manifested from Shiva's blood to slay the demon Andhakasura — both traditions are current, and neither is presented here as the final version.

Who observes it

Shiva devotees and Kaal Bhairav worshippers — those seeking relief from fear, misfortune, or ill will; many families and villages in Maharashtra where Bhairavnath is the kuladevata/gramadaivat observe it with special devotion. It's open to everyone — no source found any gender-specific "women/men only" restriction the way Durgashtami carries one.

For regular devotees, this monthly vrat is less elaborate than Kaal Bhairav Jayanti, making it easier to observe through the year; some devotees take a vow of 40 consecutive days of temple visits.

Puja vidhi

The elaborate rites of Kaal Bhairav Jayanti aren't required for the monthly Kalashtami — that detailed vidhi belongs on the Kaal Bhairav Jayanti page itself. For monthly Kalashtami, the general sequence is:

A bath is taken before sunrise, followed by a sankalp.
An oil lamp is lit before the Kaal Bhairav murti/image (with a Shivling) — sources differ on the oil type (mustard vs. sesame); both are recorded here, neither is settled as correct.
Sandal paste, flowers, bel leaves (21 leaves on the Shivling), incense-lamp, and naivedya are offered.
The Shri Kalabhairava Ashtakam and Bhairav mantras are recited, with focus.
A black dog (Kaal Bhairav's vahana) is fed milk, curd, and sweets — the special, distinctive act of this vrat.
Many sources mention worship at night (during nishita kaal); still, "night worship is mandatory" isn't presented as a blanket rule, since some sources also describe a morning rite.
Some devotees take a vow of 40 consecutive days of temple visits.

What you need

A Kaal Bhairav image/murti (and Shivling), oil and a lamp (mustard/sesame — varies by source), sandal paste-akshata-turmeric-kumkum, flowers and bel leaves, incense, camphor, naivedya (jaggery/sweets/fruit), milk-curd-sweets for the black dog, and the Kalabhairava Ashtakam/text. (This list can vary by tradition.)

Shivling

Oil

Lamp

Sandal paste

Akshata

Turmeric-kumkum

Flowers

Bel leaves

Incense stick

Dhoop (incense)

Camphor

Naivedya

Kalabhairava Ashtakam text

Fasting

Some devotees keep a strict fast, some eat only fruit, and others take one sattvik meal — according to capacity. The Kalashtami fast is generally considered milder/less strict than the Kaal Bhairav Jayanti fast, the same flexible-fasting approach as Durgashtami and Masik Shivratri.

Mantra & stotra

Shri Kalabhairava Ashtakam (opening line): "Devaraja-sevyamana-pavananghri-pankajam…" — an eight-verse stotra by Adi Shankaracharya; the refrain is "Kashikapuradhinatha-kalabhairavam bhaje." Meaning: salutations to Kaal Bhairav, lord of Kashi — recited for the removal of fear and sin, and equally applicable to the monthly Kalashtami.

Bij/naam-jap: "Om Kaal Bhairavaya Namah" — a simple chant.

Regional customs

Bhairavnath/Kaal Bhairav is the guardian deity of countless villages and families across Maharashtra (with many temples around Satara, Ahmednagar, and Solapur). These Bhairavnath yatras are local and scattered across the year on their own calendars — not tied to any specific Kalashtami date.

Maharashtra's popular kuladevata Khandoba is known by the classical name "Martanda Bhairava" — regarded as connected to Shiva's Bhairav form. "Khandoba is Kaal Bhairav" isn't presented as a blanket claim; only that he's regarded as linked to the Bhairav principle (more detail on the Champa Shashti page).

Marathi Wikipedia states that Kalashtami is traditionally observed only in the months of Ashwin, Kartik, and Bhadrapad — meaning only certain months. But most modern astrology/devotional portals treat every month's Krishna Ashtami as Kalashtami. Both traditions exist — in some traditions it carries special significance only in specific months, while modern practice observes it every month.

Date (2026) — 13 Kalashtami occurrences

#	Date	Day	Tithi (at sunrise)	Nakshatra	Note
1	10 January	Saturday	Krishna Saptami (Ashtami at night)	Hasta	Kalashtami
2	9 February	Monday	Krishna Ashtami	Vishakha	Kalashtami
3	11 March	Wednesday	Krishna Ashtami	Jyeshtha	Kalashtami
4	10 April	Friday	Krishna Ashtami	Purvashadha	Kalashtami
5	9 May	Saturday	Krishna Saptami (Ashtami at night)	Shravan	Kalashtami (despite Saptami)
6	8 June	Monday	Adhik Jyeshtha Krishna Ashtami	Shatataraka	Adhik masa
7	7 July	Tuesday	Krishna Saptami (Ashtami at night)	Uttara Bhadrapada	Main label 'Tukaram Palkhi Prasthan'; Kalashtami secondary
8	5 August	Wednesday	Krishna Saptami (Ashtami at night)	Ashwini	Kalashtami (despite Saptami)
9	4 September	Friday	Krishna Ashtami	Rohini	Main label 'Shrikrishna Janmashtami'; Kalashtami secondary
10	3 October	Saturday	Krishna Saptami/Ashtami	Ardra	Main label 'Ashtami Mahalay'; Kalashtami secondary
11	1 November	Sunday	Krishna Saptami (Ashtami at night)	Pushya	Main label 'Bhanu Saptami'; Kalashtami secondary
12	1 December	Tuesday	Krishna Ashtami (ends 11:13 PM)	Magha	= Kaal Bhairav Jayanti (flagship)
13	30 December	Wednesday	Krishna Saptami (Ashtami at night)	Uttara Falguni	Kalashtami — different from the 1 December Jayanti, an ordinary monthly occurrence

These dates fall roughly once a month; the count of 13 is specific to 2026 — since 2026 is an adhik-masa year (Kalashtami falls in both Adhik Jyeshtha in June and Nij Jyeshtha in July), and two separate amanta lunar cycles (Kartik and Margashirsha) both have their Krishna Ashtami land in the same Gregorian month of December, the count comes to 13. Every year this count stays roughly 12-13 — this isn't a permanent "always 13" fact.

Don't confuse 1 December with 30 December: 1 December is the Kalashtami of the Kartik (amanta) = Margashirsha (purnimanta) month — this is the annual flagship Kaal Bhairav Jayanti, whose full research is on that same page. 30 December is the Kalashtami of Margashirsha (amanta, one further lunar month in the panchang's own cycle) — this is an ordinary monthly Kalashtami, not the flagship.

Good to know

Fasting is optional, not compulsory — if a full fast isn't manageable for health or medication reasons, follow your doctor's guidance rather than a fixed diet.
In some months, the sunrise tithi reads Saptami even though that day is treated as Kalashtami (Ashtami prevails at night/after pradosh) — per one published methodology, that is the rule applied here; this can feel confusing, but it isn't an error in the panchang.
The Margashirsha/Kartik Kalashtami (1 December) is the annual Kaal Bhairav Jayanti; the 30 December Kalashtami is different, an ordinary occurrence.
7 July (Tukaram Palkhi), 4 September (Janmashtami), 3 October (Mahalay), 1 November (Bhanu Saptami) — Kalashtami falls on these days too, but each day's primary identity belongs to the other festival.
Check your local Bhairav/Bhairavnath temple's timings before visiting.

FAQ

What is Kalashtami?: The vrat of Kaal Bhairav (Shiva's fierce form), observed on Krishna Paksha Ashtami every month — roughly 12-13 times a year.
What's the difference between Kalashtami and Kaal Bhairav Jayanti?: The Kalashtami in the Margashirsha/Kartik month is called Kaal Bhairav Jayanti — the most significant of the year; the remaining 11-12 are the regular monthly Kalashtami.
Which tithi does Kalashtami fall on?: Krishna Paksha Ashtami, in every amanta month; even if the sunrise tithi reads Saptami, per one published rule the day counts as Kalashtami when Ashtami prevails at night (a single-source explanation, not an ironclad universal rule).
When does Kalashtami fall in 2026?: 13 dates — from 10 January to 30 December (see the list above).
How should the Kalashtami vrat be observed?: Bathe, worship and offer to Kaal Bhairav, fast, recite the Kalabhairava Ashtakam, feed milk-curd to a black dog, and often a special night puja.
Why is a black dog fed on Kalashtami?: The dog is regarded as Kaal Bhairav's vahana; feeding it milk, curd, and sweets is the special, distinctive act of this vrat.
Why is Kalashtami puja performed at night?: Kaal Bhairav is regarded as the presiding deity of time (kaal) and night; the nishita-kaal period is believed to be especially auspicious for worship.
Who should observe Kalashtami?: Shiva devotees and Kaal Bhairav worshippers; families in Maharashtra where Bhairavnath is the kuladevata/gramadaivat observe it with special devotion, but any devotee may observe it with faith.