Chitragupta Puja 2026: Date, Kalam-Dawat Puja Vidhi and Meaning

Quick answer: Chitragupta Puja 2026, also called Kalam-Dawat Puja, falls on Wednesday 11 November 2026 in India. It is on the same day as Bhai Dooj and Yama Dwitiya, the second day of the bright half of Kartika. Devotees, especially in the Kayastha community, worship Chitragupta, the divine keeper of records, along with pen, ink and account books.

This guide has been restored at its original hindutone.com address. Dates and times below are from Drik Panchang for New Delhi. If you live outside India, check Drik Panchang for your own city, because the date can differ by a day.

Chitragupta Puja 2026 date and tithi

Source: Drik Panchang, New Delhi. We do not list a puja muhurat clock time. Many families prefer to finish the puja while the Dwitiya tithi is running. For a muhurat for your city, check Drik Panchang.

Who is Chitragupta?

As commonly told, Chitragupta is the divine accountant of the universe. He keeps a complete record of every action of every being, from birth to death. When a soul reaches the court of Yama, Chitragupta reads out the record, and Yama decides what the soul has earned.

A popular story says that Brahma, the creator, meditated for a long time. From his whole body (kaya) a figure appeared holding a pen and an inkpot. Brahma named him Chitragupta and gave him the task of keeping records for Yama. Because he came from Brahma's body, his descendants came to be called Kayastha, as the story is commonly told. Different texts and families tell the details differently.

The name is often explained as 'chitra', meaning picture or clear, and 'gupta', meaning hidden. He sees and records even what is hidden from others.

Why Chitragupta Puja falls on Yama Dwitiya

Kartika Shukla Dwitiya is Yama Dwitiya, the day linked to Yama and his sister Yamuna. On this day sisters pray for their brothers, which is celebrated as Bhai Dooj. Since Chitragupta is Yama's record-keeper, it is natural that he is worshipped on the same day. For the sister-brother side of the festival, see our Bhai Dooj 2026 guide.

Kalam-Dawat Puja: what it means

For the Kayastha community, who traditionally worked as scribes, record-keepers and administrators, the pen was the main tool of their work. In many families, pens and books are kept aside after Diwali and are not used for regular writing until they have been worshipped on Chitragupta Puja. After the puja, writing starts again with a fresh, prayerful mind. Practice varies between families.

The deeper message is honesty. Chitragupta reminds us that our actions are recorded, so we should live and keep accounts truthfully.

Chitragupta Puja vidhi at home

Family traditions vary. A simple and widely followed method:

1. Bathe in the morning and clean the puja area. Place a picture of Chitragupta, or of Lord Vishnu or Ganesha if you do not have one.
2. Begin by remembering Ganesha, as at the start of any puja.
3. Place a new pen, an inkpot or ink, some blank paper and your account books or work notebooks near the picture.
4. Apply a little roli or sandalwood tilak to the pen, inkpot and books. Offer flowers, akshata (rice), incense and a lamp.
5. Offer fruits and sweets as naivedya. Many families also offer panchamrit or simple home-made sweets.
6. With the new pen, write 'Om Chitraguptaya Namah' on the paper. Many families also write the names of deities, and some write a short account of the year's income and expenses, as an offering of honest records.
7. Pray to Chitragupta for wisdom, clear thinking and a life of good deeds. Read or listen to the Chitragupta katha if your family follows it.
8. End with aarti and share the prasad. Fold the written paper and keep it in the puja area or with your account books.

The line 'Om Chitraguptaya Namah' simply means 'Salutations to Chitragupta'. It can be chanted 11 or 108 times.

Chitragupta Puja for NRI families

• Check your local date: Look up Drik Panchang for your city. Do not convert India's times.
• Keep it short on a weekday: A ten-minute puja before work, with a pen, a notebook and a lamp, keeps the tradition alive.
• Involve children: Ask children to bring their school pens and notebooks to the puja. It is a good way to teach respect for learning.
• Pair it with Bhai Dooj: Since both fall on the same day, many families do the tilak for brothers and the Kalam-Dawat Puja together.
• Community puja: Some Kayastha associations and temples abroad hold a group puja. Check your local temple or community group's own announcements.

Frequently asked questions

When is Chitragupta Puja 2026?

Chitragupta Puja 2026 is on Wednesday 11 November 2026 in India, per Drik Panchang for New Delhi. It falls on Kartika Shukla Dwitiya, the same day as Bhai Dooj and Yama Dwitiya.

What is the muhurat for Chitragupta Puja 2026?

We do not give a muhurat clock time here. The Dwitiya tithi lasts until 03:53 PM IST on 11 November in New Delhi, per Drik Panchang. For a precise puja muhurat, check Drik Panchang for your own city.

Who is Chitragupta?

As commonly told, Chitragupta is the divine record-keeper who writes down the good and bad deeds of every living being. He assists Yama, the lord of death and dharma, who uses these records to judge each soul.

Why is it called Kalam-Dawat Puja?

'Kalam' means pen and 'dawat' means inkpot. On this day devotees worship the pen, ink and account books, the tools of writing that Chitragupta is believed to use.

Who observes Chitragupta Puja?

It is observed mainly by the Kayastha community, who regard Chitragupta as their ancestral deity. Many writers, students, accountants and business people also join in because the puja honours writing and honest record-keeping.

Is the date the same outside India?

Not always. Because tithis begin and end at fixed moments, the date in the USA, Canada, the UK or Australia can differ by a day. Check Drik Panchang for your city.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. The date, tithi end time and sunrise and sunset times are from Drik Panchang for New Delhi and are in IST only. We have not given a muhurat clock time; please check Drik Panchang for your city. The story of Chitragupta is presented as commonly told, and puja customs differ between families.

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