Kalam-Dawat Puja 2025: The Festival Where Indians Worship Pen & Paper

The vibrant hues of Diwali may capture global attention, but tucked in the cultural tapestry of India lies a lesser-known yet deeply meaningful observance: Kalam‑Dawat Puja 2025. Celebrated predominantly by the Kayastha Community, this special day is dedicated to worshipping pen, inkpot (dāwat) and paper — powerful symbols of knowledge, record-keeping and moral accountability. Let’s dive deep into this fascinating festival, explore its origins, meaning, rituals, and how you can partake in its spirit this year.

1. What is Kalam-Dawat Puja?

“Kalam” means pen, “dawat” means inkpot. The festival is also sometimes called Chitragupta Puja or “Masyādhara Pūjā”, and occurs the day after Diwali (in many regions) when the lunar calendar records Kartik Shukla Dwitiya.

During this day, devotees place pens, inkpots, account books, papers and writing instruments before the deity Chitragupta, who is believed to maintain the ledger of human deeds — good and bad.

Essentially, Kalam-Dawat Puja is a symbolic celebration of literacy, writing, administration, record-keeping and moral responsibility.

2. Why is it celebrated and what is its origin?

Mythological roots

According to the story, Lord Brahma once beheld a figure holding a pen and inkpot, created from his body (kāya) and thus named Kayastha (“of the body”) and given the name Chitragupta.

Chitragupta was assigned the role of recording the deeds (chitra = picture, gupta = hidden) of all beings and reporting to Yama Raja (the god of death).

Therefore, worship of the pen, inkpot and register becomes a way of acknowledging the importance of our deeds, written records and the power of the written word.

Community & cultural significance

The Kayastha community traditionally served as scribes, accountants and administrators for kings and landlords. The tools of their trade — pen, ink, ledger — were integral to their identity. On Kalam-Dawat Puja they honour that legacy.

In modern times, the festival has expanded beyond that community to remind all of us of the significance of knowledge, writing, books and responsible living.

3. When is Kalam-Dawat Puja 2025?

For 2025, the auspicious date and time have been broadly set as:

• Date: Thursday, 23 October 2025.
• Tithi (moon-phase): Kartik Shukla Dwitiya begins 08:16 PM on 22 October, ends 10:46 PM on 23 October.
• Muhurat (auspicious period) for puja: ~ 01:13 PM to 03:28 PM (New Delhi) on 23 October 2025.

It’s always wise to check your local Panchang (calendar) for region-specific timings as they may vary.

4. Significance of the festival — Why worship pen, inkpot & paper?

• Symbol of knowledge & literacy: Writing has always been a carrier of knowledge. By worshipping pens and paper, we honour education.
• Acknowledgement of record-keeping and accountability: Recording one’s deeds, and being accountable, is a central theme. Chitragupta embodies that principle.
• Respect for one’s profession & tools: For those in writing, accounting, administration, journalism, education — this festival holds special meaning.
• Reminder of moral duty: The idea that our actions are observed and recorded is deeply embedded in the festival’s myth.
• Cultural identity for Kayasthas: While the festival is universal in its ideas, for the Kayastha community it is a meditative and identity-affirming celebration.

5. Preparations & Rituals: Step-by-step guide

Here’s how Kalam-Dawat Puja is traditionally performed — you can adapt it for your home.

Preparations

• Clean the puja room and altar area thoroughly.
• Arrange a clean white sheet or cloth as the base for the puja.
• Gather puja samagri (items): Pens, inkpot/dāwat, paper or ledger, books, roli (vermillion), haldi (turmeric), incence (agarbatti), lamp (diya), fruits, sweets, new pen & clean sheet.
• Place books, papers, ledgers near the deity or on the sheet, as they will be worshipped.

Puja Vidhi

1. Begin by invoking the deity — Lord Ganesha, followed by Lord Chitragupta.
2. Bathing ritual for the image/photograph of Chitragupta (if available): water → panchamrita → water.
3. Light the ghee lamp and incense. Offer flowers, fruit, sweets.
4. On a new sheet of paper write a swastika using roli-ghee (or turmeric/vermillion). Then, using a new pen, write names of gods and goddesses, your name, address, date, income, expenditure. This paper is then placed or kept before Chitragupta.
5. Then worship your pens, inkpot and paper: sprinkle roli & rice, offer them flowers or stand them upright. Many families also place account books or ledgers used during the year.
6. Perform Aarti and conclude with prasad distribution.
7. Some families use this day to symbolically close their accounting books for the year or start new ledgers.

After‐Puja

• The pens, inkpot and paper (or books) that were worshipped are treated with respect and kept clean.
• Some families organise a small feast or community gathering, especially among Kayasthas.
• Some also visit the temple of Chitragupta (wherever available) to offer collective prayers.

6. Region, Community & Current Trends

Communities

While prominently observed by Kayasthas, the festival’s message has spread. In many Hindu households, especially those tied to writing/education, you’ll find subdued observance of pen/ink worship on this day.

Regions

Mostly Northern and Eastern India (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh) see visible public observances. For instance, temples of Chitragupta in Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh) attract devotees.

Modern Trends

• Some schools or student communities use this day to celebrate writing and literacy: special programmes, book-drives, pen-gift events.
• Digital twist: Given fewer people use traditional inkpots, some families symbolically offer laptop, tablet or notebook as homage to “tools of writing”.
• Corporate observance: Offices may use this day to appreciate admin staff, auditors, writers, and recognise their contributions.

7. Why Kalam-Dawat Puja matters in 2025 — The relevance today

In a world dominated by digital screens, the festival’s message resonates strongly:

• Writing still matters: Despite digitalisation, the basic act of recording, writing notes, maintaining transparency retains its value.
• Education & literacy: With growing emphasis on literacy and education, a festival celebrating pen, paper and knowledge is symbolic.
• Ethics & accountability: The myth of Chitragupta recording deeds calls for introspection: Are we accountable for our actions? Are we using knowledge responsibly?
• Cultural identity & preservation: Festivals like Kalam-Dawat keep alive niche cultural traditions, reminding younger generations of community heritage.
• Mindful living: The act of pausing, gathering writing tools and honouring them provides a mindful ritual — something many modern lives lack.

8. FAQs — Quick Answers

Q: Who should observe Kalam-Dawat Puja?
A: Anyone can! Though rooted in the Kayastha tradition, the festival offers universal symbolism—writers, students, teachers, accountants and all knowledge-workers can observe it.

Q: What if I don’t have an inkpot or traditional pen?
A: Use what you have: a modern ink-pen, notebook, laptop (symbolically). The key intent is reverence for the tools of knowledge and record-keeping.

Q: Can non-Kayasthas participate?
A: Absolutely—this festival transcends caste when seen as a celebration of writing and accountability.

Q: Is there fasting required?
A: Not strictly. Some households may fast or observe modest meals, but the primary emphasis is on the puja of the tools.

Q: What if I miss the day?
A: You can still perform the ritual with respect; the symbolic act matters more than exact timing for personal observance.

9. Tips to Make the Most of Kalam-Dawat Puja 2025

• Prepare early: Gather new pens, paper, books ahead of time; clean the puja space the evening prior.
• Involve children & students: Make the festival fun: they can decorate new notebooks, write their goals for the year, and respect writing tools.
• Corporate/Office version: Use this day to thank admin/staff, conduct a “writer’s circle” or “account-closing ceremony” highlighting importance of record-keeping.
• Digital twist: If you’re in a fully digital environment, you can symbolically ‘worship’ a stylus, tablet or digital notebook and commit to ethical use of data and writing.
• Reflect personally: Take a moment to review the “ledger” of your year — achievements, mistakes, goals. Write them down and commit to improvement.
• Share the story: Since not many may know this festival, share the background with your friends or on social media to spread awareness.

10. Kalam-Dawat Puja and Its Broader Message

At its heart, Kalam-Dawat Puja is less about ritual objects and more about ideas: knowledge, writing, accountability, legacy. It reminds us that:

• Every action might be recorded — not by a divine scribe alone, but by our own conscience.
• The simplest tools — pen and paper — still carry power: the power to learn, to record, to transform.
• Traditions, even niche ones, can illuminate modern values: ethics, transparency, literacy.
• Celebrating our tools (pens, paper) means honouring the work they allow us to do — whether it’s teaching, writing, auditing, recording or dreaming.

In 2025, when the world races ahead with digital speed, Kalam-Dawat Puja invites us to pause, to honour our roots, to respect the written word and to recommit to integrity in what we record and how we act.

11. Recap: Key Facts at Glance

• Name: Kalam-Dawat Puja (also Chitragupta Puja / Dawat Puja)
• Date for 2025: Thursday, 23 October (Kartik Shukla Dwitiya)
• Time (approx): 01:13 PM-03:28 PM for New Delhi region (check local).
• Who celebrates: Especially Kayastha community; open to all.
• Ritual: Worship pens, inkpots, paper, books; write new sheet with name/income/expenditure; perform Aarti.
• Meaning: Knowledge, record-keeping, moral accountability, celebration of writing tools.

12. Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a student scribbling notes, an accountant keeping ledgers, a writer crafting stories, or simply someone who values the power of the written word — Kalam-Dawat Puja 2025 offers a meaningful moment. It reminds us: tools matter, writing matters, our deeds matter. So as the Diwali lamps still glow, devote a moment to your pen, your paper, your notebook — and reflect on what you will write next, what you will record in the ledger of your life.

May this festival inspire you to write wisely, record honestly and act with integrity. Happy Kalam-Dawat Puja 2025!