It's close to midnight. The lamps are lit and half the neighbourhood is still awake. A conch sounds somewhere, and down the lane a pandal glows red. That's Kali Puja 2026 for you, on a night when much of Bengal, Odisha and Assam turns to Maa Kali.
Kali Puja 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November. The main puja happens at midnight, during Nishita Kaal. For New Delhi, that window is 11:39 PM to 12:31 AM, just under an hour.
The quick answer
Date- Sunday, 8 November 2026.
Time- Nishita Kaal, 11:39 PM to 12:31 AM (New Delhi, IST).
Tithi- Amavasya, from 11:27 AM on 8 November to 12:31 PM on 9 November.
Also called- Shyama Puja.
Whose puja- Goddess Kali, also known in Bengal as Bhavatarini.
Favourite flower- Red hibiscus (jaba).
This guide covers the date and timing for Kali Puja 2026, the stories, how it differs from Lakshmi Puja, a simple puja at home and the temples people visit. Your city's midnight window will differ a little, so check your local panchang.
Kali Puja 2026 Date and Time
Kali Puja follows the Amavasya that is present at midnight. That's the rule. Lakshmi Puja, on the other hand, goes by the Amavasya at Pradosh, the hours after sunset. This year, for Kali Puja 2026, both land on 8 November.
Event | Timing (IST) |
|---|---|
Amavasya begins | 11:27 AM, 8 November |
Nishita Kaal puja, New Delhi | 11:39 PM to 12:31 AM (9 November) |
Duration | About 53 minutes |
Amavasya ends | 12:31 PM, 9 November |
Those are the timings for New Delhi. In Kolkata the midnight window comes earlier because the sun sets earlier, so use a Bengali panjika or your local panchang for your city.
Late? It happens Many families begin a little before the window, finish the main puja around midnight and carry on with the aarti. Ask your pandit ji, or follow what your family has always done. |
What Is Kali Puja? Meaning and Other Names
Kali Puja is the worship of Goddess Kali on the new moon night of Diwali. It's also called Shyama Puja. While most of India lights lamps for Lakshmi that evening, many homes in Bengal, Odisha and Assam stay up for Kali.
In years when the tithi shifts, Kali Puja can fall a day before Diwali. For Kali Puja 2026 the two share the same date. Some people call it Dipanwita Kali Puja, after the lamps lit on the night. Wikipedia has a short background if you want more.
Why Is Kali Puja Celebrated? Three Stories
There's no single origin, and the stories overlap. Here are three that people retell most often.
Kali from Durga's forehead
In the Devi Mahatmya, Kali springs from the forehead of Durga in the middle of a battle with the demons Chanda, Munda and Raktabija. She wins, but the victory dance gets out of control.
Shiva lies in her path
To calm her, Shiva lies down in the way. When Kali steps on him, she realises what she's done and bites her tongue. The famous image of her with her tongue out comes from this moment.
Ramakrishna and Dakshineswar
In modern Bengal, Sri Ramakrishna's devotion to Maa Bhavatarini at Dakshineswar made Kali worship feel warm and personal. For many families she is as much a mother as a fierce goddess.
Kali Puja vs Lakshmi Puja: Same Night, Two Goddesses
Both fall on the same Amavasya, which confuses people. They are separate pujas, done at different hours, usually in different regions.
Kali Puja | Lakshmi Puja | |
|---|---|---|
Goddess | Kali (Shyama) | Lakshmi |
Timing | Midnight, Nishita Kaal | Evening, Pradosh Kaal |
Mostly done in | Bengal, Odisha, Assam | Most of India |
Key flower | Red hibiscus | Lotus |
Mood | A late, quiet, intense night | Lamps, rangoli, family evening |
In Bengal, Lakshmi's big night is actually Kojagara Lakshmi Puja on the Ashwin full moon, which fell on 25 October this year. If you want to do both on 8 November, do Lakshmi Puja in the evening and Kali Puja at midnight. Our Diwali 2026 guide has the Lakshmi Puja timing.
Kali Puja Samagri: What to Keep Ready
The list for Kali Puja 2026 is short. Keep everything on a clean brass thali before the evening, so you're not hunting around at midnight.
A picture or idol of Maa Kali
Red hibiscus flowers and a garland if you can find one
A ghee diya, cotton wicks and camphor
Roli, sandalwood paste and whole rice (akshat)
Incense sticks
Sweets such as sondesh or rasgulla, plus a seasonal fruit
Betel leaf and supari
A small lota of clean water
Kali Puja at Home: A Simple Vidhi
This is a simple, devotional version of Kali Puja 2026 for a home. Some families follow different or more elaborate rites, so treat this as a rough guide and follow your own family's tradition.
Clean the altar area and take a bath in the evening.
Set up the thali and place Maa Kali's picture or idol on a clean cloth.
Light the ghee diya and invoke the goddess with a short prayer.
Offer red hibiscus, sandalwood paste and akshat.
Chant a mantra (see below) as the Nishita window begins.
Offer sweets and fruit as bhog.
Do the aarti with the diya and camphor.
Sit quietly for a few minutes. Many people simply say what's on their mind.
Share the prasad with the family after the puja.
Safety first It's a late night, and diyas, incense and camphor are all burning. Keep lamps on a steady surface, away from curtains and children, and never leave a flame unattended. |
Kali Mantra and Aarti
You don't need a long chant. A short mantra said slowly is enough. Here is one that's commonly used. Verses vary by tradition, so go with your pandit ji's version if you have one.
ॐ क्रीं कालिकायै नमः।
Meaning: Salutations to Kali. To keep count, try the Naam Jaap counter in the app, and find aartis and bhajans in our aarti section.
Famous Kali Temples in Kolkata
If you're in Kolkata for Kali Puja 2026, or planning a trip, these are the Kali shrines people head to on Amavasya night. Expect big crowds.
Kalighat Kali Temple: one of the Shakti Peethas, and the best known Kali temple in the city.
Dakshineswar Kali Temple: on the Hooghly, tied to Sri Ramakrishna and Maa Bhavatarini.
Thanthania Kalibari: an old temple known for Kali worship around Kartik Amavasya.
You can browse temple darshan on the app, and learn about other goddesses on our deities page.
Where Kali Puja Fits in Diwali Week
Diwali week is crowded, so here's where Kali Puja 2026 fits. Dates are for India.
Fri, 6 Nov: Dhanteras.
Sun, 8 Nov, morning: Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi).
Sun, 8 Nov, evening: Diwali and Lakshmi Puja.
Sun, 8 Nov, midnight: Kali Puja, Nishita Kaal.
Tue, 10 Nov: Govardhan Puja.
Wed, 11 Nov: Bhai Dooj, known as Bhai Phota in Bengal.
More guides are in our festival blog.
Do's and Don'ts on Kali Puja Night
A few small habits keep a long night calm. The table puts the do's and don'ts side by side.
Do | Don't |
|---|---|
Check your own city's midnight window | Copy Kolkata or Delhi timings for your town |
Keep lamps on a steady, fire-safe surface | Leave a diya or camphor burning alone |
Use fresh red hibiscus | Offer wilted or dry flowers |
Follow your family's custom | Argue about differences in tradition |
Keep fireworks and noise low | Disturb elders, babies and pets |
Keep the Midnight Lamp Lit
Kali Puja 2026 is about staying up a little longer than usual, lighting one more lamp and saying what you'd normally keep to yourself. Keep it simple. A red flower, a diya and a few quiet minutes are plenty.
If you like, finish with some rounds of Naam Jaap or an aarti from the app.
Get the Mobile Mandir app on the App Store or Google Play.
Joy Maa Kali, from all of us at Mobile Mandir.
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to what people ask most about Kali Puja 2026.
Sunday, 8 November 2026. The main puja is done at midnight, so the Nishita Kaal window falls late on 8 November and runs into the early hours of 9 November.
The Nishita Kaal puja time for New Delhi is 11:39 PM to 12:31 AM, about 53 minutes. Other cities differ by a few minutes to nearly an hour, so check your local panchang.
Yes, both are on 8 November. Lakshmi Puja is done in the evening and Kali Puja at midnight, on the same Amavasya.
It's tied to the Amavasya present at midnight, the darkest hour. Devotees see the darkness as a symbol of fear and ego, which the goddess is believed to dissolve.
Yes, they're two names for the same puja. Shyama means dark-complexioned, one of Kali's names.
Red hibiscus, called jaba in Bengal, is the flower most associated with her. Fresh flowers are best.
Yes. A clean spot, a picture of Maa Kali, a ghee diya, red flowers, sweets and sincere prayer are enough. Some families follow other rites, so keep to your own custom.
Both are on the Diwali Amavasya, but Lakshmi Puja is done in the evening, mostly across India, while Kali Puja is done at midnight, mostly in Bengal, Odisha and Assam.
