Kali Puja 2026: Date, Nishita Muhurat, Meaning and How to Worship Maa Kali on Diwali Night

On the darkest night of the year, when the rest of India lights lamps for Lakshmi, Shakti devotees sit before Maa Kali. Kali Puja 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November, the Amavasya (new moon) of Kartik month, the same night as Diwali. This guide covers the date and Nishita muhurat, why Kali is worshipped at midnight, how to prepare at home, and how to have a pooja performed in your name at the Akhara's Manali Ashram.

Kali Puja 2026 date and muhurat

• Kali Puja: Sunday, 8 November 2026
• Amavasya tithi begins: 11:27 AM, 8 November 2026
• Amavasya tithi ends: 12:31 PM, 9 November 2026
• Nishita Kaal (main worship window): 11:39 PM, 8 November to 12:31 AM, 9 November (about 53 minutes)

Timings are for New Delhi (IST). Local times shift by a few minutes from city to city, so check a panchang for your location if you are worshipping at home.

Kali Puja is observed on the Amavasya that prevails at midnight. In Bengal, Odisha and Assam it is called Shyama Puja, and in most years it falls on the same night as Diwali Lakshmi Puja.

Why Maa Kali is worshipped on Amavasya

Amavasya is the night without the moon. In the Shakti tradition it is not feared; it is the doorway. Kali is the power of time (Kaal) itself, the force that dissolves what has outlived its purpose so that something truer can begin. Worshipping her on the darkest night is a statement of faith: even here, the Mother is present.

Her form carries the teaching. The dark complexion is the infinite, beyond every name and colour. The garland of heads stands for the ego and the letters of language she has gone beyond. The raised sword cuts ignorance, and the hand in abhaya mudra tells the devotee not to fear. She stands on Shiva because consciousness without Shakti cannot move.

Kali Puja and Diwali: one night, two prayers

On the same Amavasya, most households worship Maa Lakshmi in the evening (Pradosh Kaal) for prosperity, while Kali is worshipped at Nishita Kaal, around midnight. They are not in conflict. Lakshmi brings abundance; Kali removes what blocks it, whether fear, negativity, old karma or ill will directed at you. Many Shakti families do both: Lakshmi Puja at dusk, then Kali Puja at midnight.

Aghore Kali: the Aghor understanding of the Mother

"Aghor" means "not terrible". The Aghor path teaches that nothing the Mother has made is impure, and that fear itself is the last illusion to fall. Seen this way, Kali's fierce form is not something to fear; it is the face of a mother who will stop at nothing to protect her child.

At Sarveshwari Shakti International Women Aghori Akhara, Maa Kali is worshipped in her Aghore form alongside the Akhara's presiding deity, Maa Pratyangira Devi, the lion-faced Mother who turns back harm sent towards her devotees. Both are fierce, protective forms of the same Shakti.

How to prepare for Kali Puja at home

The day before

• Clean the home and the place of worship, and remove anything broken or unused.
• Keep a sattvic diet, and avoid alcohol, meat and arguments.
• Decide your sankalp: one clear intention you will offer to the Mother.

What you will need

• An image or idol of Maa Kali, a red or black cloth, and a clean asan to sit on
• Red hibiscus (jaba) flowers, the flower most associated with Kali
• A mustard-oil or ghee diya, incense and camphor
• Offerings (bhog) such as sweets, fruits and khichdi
• Kumkum, akshat (unbroken rice) and a small bell

Simple worship at Nishita Kaal

1. Bathe, wear clean clothes and sit facing the Mother as midnight approaches.
2. Light the diya and incense, and invoke Lord Ganesh to remove obstacles.
3. Take your sankalp: hold water and akshat, state your name, gotra and intention, and release it.
4. Offer hibiscus flowers, kumkum and bhog to Maa Kali.
5. Chant her mantra with a mala, for example "Om Kreem Kalikayai Namah", 108 times.
6. Perform aarti, ask forgiveness for any mistakes, and sit in silence for a few minutes.
7. Share the prasad with your family the next morning.

The fierce forms of Kali, and Tantric or Aghor rites in particular, are traditionally performed only under a guru's guidance. At home, keep the worship simple, sincere and devotional.

Getting a Kali Puja performed in your name

If you cannot perform the full rituals yourself, the Akhara's priests can perform the Maa Kali (Aghore Kali) pooja at Manali Ashram with your name and gotra in the sankalp. You can join live from anywhere or watch the replay later.

For complete protection and transformation, the Dash Mahavidya Maha Pooja honours all ten Mahavidyas, beginning with Kali. If you are facing a specific problem, such as fear, enemies or negative energy, you can find help for your concern or book a personal consultation with the Akhara.

Upcoming dates are listed on the pooja calendar. Check it for the Amavasya dates and book your sankalp in advance.

Frequently asked questions

When is Kali Puja in 2026?

Kali Puja 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The main Nishita Kaal worship is from 11:39 PM to 12:31 AM (New Delhi time).

Is Kali Puja on the same day as Diwali in 2026?

Yes. In 2026 both fall on the Kartik Amavasya of 8 November. Lakshmi Puja is done in the evening and Kali Puja at midnight.

Which mantra is chanted on Kali Puja?

A widely chanted mantra is "Om Kreem Kalikayai Namah". Chant it with devotion, ideally 108 times on a rudraksha or red sandalwood mala.

Can women perform Kali Puja?

Yes. Kali is Shakti herself, and women have always been her devotees and sadhikas. The Akhara was founded by Sadhvi Sshivani Durga ji as a women's Aghori Akhara to keep this tradition alive.

Can I take part in Kali Puja if I live outside India?

Yes. The Akhara performs the pooja at Manali Ashram with your name and gotra in the sankalp, and you can join the live stream from anywhere in the world.

May Maa Kali remove every fear from your path this Amavasya. Jai Maa Kali.