Festivals through the year
Timings change on festivals, eclipses and special days. Confirm at the mandir before you travel.
- Krishna Ashtami of Margashirsha (Aghan), November or December
Bhairav Ashtami (Kaal Bhairav Jayanti)
The appearance day of Kaal Bhairav and the biggest festival of the temple. Baba is given a panchamrit bath and a special shringar, and devotees offer oil through the day. For some years a very large cake was cut as Baba's birthday (601 kg in 2018); news reports in December 2024 said the cake-cutting had been stopped. The Krishna Ashtami of every other month is kept as Kalashtami.
- No single fixed date was confirmed; Bhairav Ashtami, Sundays and Tuesdays are the favoured days
Ashta Bhairav Yatra
A pilgrimage to the eight Bhairavas who guard Kashi: Ruru at Hanuman Ghat, Chand at Durga Kund, Asitang near Mrityunjay Mahadev, Kapali at Laat Bhairav, Krodhan at Kamachha, Unmatt, Bhishan at Bhut Bhairav and Samhar at Gai Ghat. The round ends with darshan of Kaal Bhairav, the Kotwal.
- Held once a year in winter; in 2025 it fell on 26 December
Annual Shringar and Annakut
Baba is dressed in special clothes and fifty-six kinds of bhog are offered, among them fruits, sweets and liquor. After the aarti the doors are opened and darshan continues late into the night. A rudraksha shringar is also among the temple's yearly observances.
- Krishna Chaturdashi of Phalguna, February or March
Mahashivratri
The great night of Shiva brings enormous crowds to Kashi, and most pilgrims who come for Vishwanath also go to the Kotwal. Expect very long queues in the lanes.
- Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya, the first day of the Rath Yatra fair, June or July
Nagar Bhraman of Baba Kaal Bhairav
A five-faced gold and silver image of Baba is taken through the old city in procession, with bands, drums and tableaux. In 2026 it went from Chaukhamba through Vishweshwarganj, Maidagin and Chowk to the Bhaironath crossing. The procession is organised by a local community committee.