Kalabhairav Jayanti 2025: Significance, rituals, and date
Kalabhairav Jayanti, also called Bhairava Ashtami, is happening on Wednesday, November 12.
This festival honors Lord Kalabhairava—a fierce form of Shiva known as the guardian of time.
The celebration kicks off late on November 11 and runs through November 12, making it a special window for worship.
How to worship Kalabhairava at home
Devotees start by taking a holy bath with black sesame or Ganga water, then wear fresh white or saffron clothes.
They set up an altar with Kalabhairava's image, black cloth, and mustard oil lamps.
Offerings like black sesame seeds, bel leaves, coconut, and black flowers are common.
Chanting "Om Kalabhairavaya Namah" and reciting sacred hymns are at the heart of the rituals.
What else to keep in mind?
The midnight (Nishita Kaal) puja is a big deal—think lamps lit in the dark and feeding black dogs (seen as Bhairava's companions). Acts of charity like donating food or clothes are encouraged too.
Across India, celebrations have their own flavor: Varanasi hosts all-night prayers at Kaal Bhairav Temple; Ujjain stands out with its unique ritual of offering liquor to the deity.
At its core, worshiping Kalabhairava is believed to help overcome fear and obstacles while boosting spiritual growth.