Naraka Chaturdashi comes the day before the main Diwali night, and many people call it Choti Diwali. It is the day for an early morning oil bath, small lamps in the evening, and the last bit of cleaning and cooking before Lakshmi Puja.
Date in 2026
Chaturdashi Tithi Begins: Saturday, 7 November 2026, at approximately 10:47 AM.
Chaturdashi Tithi Ends: Sunday, 8 November 2026, at approximately 11:27 AM–11:30 AM.
Abhyanga Snan Muhurat (Pre-dawn Oil Bath):
New Delhi: Approximately 5:41 AM to 6:38 AM on Sunday, 8 November 2026.
Mumbai: Approximately 5:45 AM to 6:42 AM on Sunday, 8 November 2026.
This year Choti Diwali and Diwali fall on the same day. Chaturdashi ends and Amavasya begins on the 7th, so the morning bath and the evening Lakshmi Puja both happen that day. One source gives the Lakshmi Puja time as 6:29 PM to 8:29 PM. Sunrise is different in every city, so it is best to check a local panchang or ask your family pandit for exact timings.
What the day means
Naraka means hell. The festival is about letting go of what is bad in your life. It stands for removing laziness and evil, and it is a day of cleansing the body and mind before Lakshmi Puja. The idea is simple: clean yourself first, then welcome the goddess of wealth into your home.
The story of Narakasura
Narakasura was the son of Bhumi, the Earth goddess, and the king of Pragjyotishpura. He received a powerful boon and began to misuse it. He troubled the gods, took the earrings of Aditi, and kept sixteen thousand women as prisoners.
The gods went to Lord Krishna for help. Krishna set out to fight Narakasura, and his wife Satyabhama went with him as his charioteer. In the battle, Krishna fell unconscious. Satyabhama picked up the bow and killed the demon. In many tellings she is seen as Bhumi’s incarnation, which fits the boon that only his mother could end his life. The victory freed the sixteen thousand women and brought peace back to the world.
There is a softer part to the story too. Before dying, Narakasura is said to have asked that his death be remembered with lights and colour instead of sadness. That is why the day is marked with lamps and fireworks.
How Choti Diwali is celebrated
The oil bath (Abhyanga Snan). This is the main ritual of the day. People bathe before sunrise using oil and an ubtan, a paste of herbs, to cleanse both body and spirit. Afterwards, people put on new clothes. A small Lakshmi puja is also common. It means waking up very early, and most families do it together.
Lighting lamps. Small oil lamps are lit to welcome prosperity, and a Yamadeepam is lit to honour Lord Yama. In some homes, thirteen diyas are placed facing south for ancestors.
Food and decoration. Rangoli goes up at the entrance, and the kitchen is busy with sweets and snacks like karanji, chakli and laddoo.
Regional customs. The day looks different across India:
In Maharashtra, families wake up before dawn for the bath, and some people crush a bitter fruit under their foot to show the defeat of Narakasura.
In Goa, large Narakasura figures are burnt early in the morning.
In Tamil Nadu and much of South India, this is the main Diwali day, with an early oil bath, new clothes and crackers.
In Bengal and Gujarat, it is called Kali Chaudas, and Goddess Kali (or Hanuman in some Gujarati homes) is worshipped at night.
In North India, it is mostly known as Choti Diwali, a day of lighting lamps and finishing preparations.
A few simple tips
Keep the oil and ubtan ready the night before, and set your alarm before sunrise. Decorate the house and make the rangoli early so the evening stays relaxed, since Lakshmi Puja follows the same day this year. Customs vary from family to family, so follow what your elders do at home.
Naraka Chaturdashi is a small festival with a big message. Clean up, let go of old burdens, and light a lamp. Shubh Choti Diwali to you and your family!
