Kali Puja 2026

Kali Puja 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November, observed on Kartik Amavasya to honour Goddess Kali. It coincides with Lakshmi Puja and Diwali, celebrated most prominently in West Bengal, Assam and Odisha.

Day

Date

Name of the festival

Sunday

08 November 2026

Kali Puja

Significance of Kali Puja

Kali Puja

Kali Puja, also known as Shyama Puja, holds immense religious and spiritual importance in Hinduism. It is performed to worship Goddess Kali, the fierce incarnation of Goddess Durga, who symbolizes power, protection, and destruction of evil.

Spiritual Belief: Devotees seek protection from negative energies, removal of ego, and attainment of inner peace through Kali’s blessings.

Symbolism: Kali’s image, standing on Lord Shiva, represents the triumph of divine feminine energy over destructive male ego.

Astrological Relevance: Worshipping Goddess Kali during Kartik Amavasya is considered highly auspicious and is believed to remove obstacles and bless devotees with health, wealth, and wisdom.

The festival is especially significant in West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam, and is celebrated on the same night as Diwali in other parts of India.

How is Kali Puja Celebrated?

People honor Goddess Kali in their houses. They worship the Goddess at night with mantras and rites and offer her flowers, sweets, fish, meat and lentils. Worshippers will meditate throughout the night. The Goddess is also offered sweets made of fruits, rice and lentils. Special celebrations are held in Kolkata and Guwahati. On this precious day, Goddess Kali is worshipped as Lakshmi in these two places. The importance of Kali Puja is to eliminate immortality in all formats that prevents one from accomplishing mystical fulfillment. Worshippers will pray for protection against war, death, wealth, health, peace and protection against difficulty.

Kali Puja Muhurat and Timing 2026

Kali Puja Nishita Time: 11:39 PM to 12:31 AM (8 to 9 November 2026)

Duration: 53 minutes

Amavasya Tithi Begins: 11:27 AM on 8 November 2026

Amavasya Tithi Ends: 12:31 PM on 9 November 2026

Note: Muhurat timings may vary slightly by location.

History of Kali Puja

Raja Krishnachandra introduced the festival of Kali Puja during the 18th century in West Bengal. The festival became extremely popular over the years. In Assam and West Bengal, Kali Puja is equivalent to Durga Puja in size and enthusiasm. Goddess Kali is considered as an exterminator of evil forces.

Calendar of Kali Puja 2026

Day

Date

Name of the festival

Sunday

8 November 2026

Kali Puja

Things Required for Kali Puja

  • Lord Ganesh idol, Lord Vishnu idol, Goddess Kali idol
  • Earthen Lamp
  • Incense
  • Tantrik symbols
  • Rice
  • Darba grass
  • Sandalwood powder

Kali Pandals in Kolkata

Kali Puja, the second largest festival in the city of Kolkata, is observed after the celebration of Durga Puja. After Vijayadashami, the Kali pandals will go up with flower decoration. In every street corner, pandals will be organised. The following are the most famous Kali pandals in Kolkata:

  • Girish Park: Sited in central Kolkata, the pandal will be designed beautifully.
  • Shibpur Bijoyee Sangha Kali Puja: The pandal covers various themes enticing people from the world.
  • Barasat Chhatra Dal Kali Puja: It is another attractively designed pandal in Kolkata.
  • Pioneer Athletic Club Barasat Kali Puja: It is also the most fabulous festival in the city of Kolkata.
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Summary 

Kali Puja 2026 honours Goddess Kali on Kartik Amavasya, observed most widely in West Bengal, Assam and Odisha alongside Diwali and Lakshmi Puja elsewhere in India. The festival combines night-long worship, elaborate Kolkata pandals and centuries of tradition dating back to Raja Krishnachandra. Check the Kali Puja Muhurat and date each year, as both shift with the Hindu calendar.

FAQs on Kali Puja

1.FAQsWhat is Kali Puja?

Kali Puja is a Hindu festival devoted to Goddess Kali, celebrated on Kartik Amavasya to seek her blessings for protection, health and prosperity. It falls on the same night as Diwali and Lakshmi Puja. Devotees mark Kali Puja with night-long prayer and offerings.

2.When is Kali Puja celebrated?

Kali Puja is observed on Kartik Amavasya, the new-moon night of the Hindu month of Kartik, which typically falls in October or November each year. It coincides with Lakshmi Puja and Diwali celebrations elsewhere in India.

3.Which states celebrate Kali Puja?

Kali Puja is celebrated with particular fervour in West Bengal, Assam and Odisha, where it holds religious significance comparable to Durga Puja. In Kolkata and Guwahati, Goddess Kali is worshipped in place of Lakshmi on this night.

4.How is Kali Puja celebrated?

Kali Puja rituals take place at night with mantras, offerings of flowers, sweets, fish, meat and lentils, and hours of meditation before the goddess. Devotees observing Kali Puja pray for protection, health, wealth and peace. 

5.What items are needed for Kali Puja?

A Kali Puja typically requires idols of Goddess Kali, Lord Ganesh and Lord Vishnu, along with an earthen lamp, incense, rice and sandalwood powder. These items support the night-long worship central to Kali Puja.

6.How is the Kali Puja Muhurat decided?

The Kali Puja Muhurat is calculated each year from the Nishita period, the middle of the night during Kartik Amavasya, based on local sunrise and sunset times. Because Amavasya Tithi timings shift annually, the exact Kali Puja Muhurat should be checked closer to the date.

7.Who introduced Kali Puja?

Kali Puja is credited to Raja Krishnachandra, who popularised the festival in eighteenth-century West Bengal. Since then, Kali Puja has grown to rival Durga Puja in scale, especially in West Bengal and Assam.

8.What are the famous Kali Puja pandals in Kolkata?

Kolkata's best-known Kali Puja pandals include Girish Park, Shibpur Bijoyee Sangha, Barasat Chhatra Dal and Pioneer Athletic Club Barasat, each drawing crowds with elaborate themed decorations. These pandals go up across the city once Durga Puja concludes.

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