Narak Chaturdashi 2026नरक चतुर्दशी

When is Narak Chaturdashi?

Observed on Krishna Chaturdashi, Kartik month (day before Diwali). Dates follow the Panchang for New Delhi and can differ by a day in other places — check the Panchang for your city.

What Narak Chaturdashi means

Narak Chaturdashi, the fourteenth day of the dark half of Kartik (Ashvin in the amanta calendar), is the second of the five days of Diwali — popularly Choti Diwali, "little Diwali". It celebrates Krishna's destruction of the demon Narakasura, and with it the end of fear, captivity and darkness.

Its heart is the abhyanga snan: before sunrise, the body is massaged with sesame oil and cleansed with ubtan, as if washing away the impurity of the year. In South India — Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and parts of Andhra — this pre-dawn "Ganga snanam" is Deepavali itself, the main festival day, greeted with "Ganga snanam aacha?" (have you had your Ganga bath?).

In the evening lamps are lit for Yama, the lord of death, praying that no untimely death come to the family. In Rajasthan and Gujarat it is Roop Chaudas, a day for beauty and cleansing; in Gujarat Kali Chaudas; and in Bengal Bhoot Chaturdashi, when fourteen lamps are lit for fourteen generations of ancestors.

The story of Narak Chaturdashi

Narakasura, the son of Bhudevi (the Earth), ruled Pragjyotishapura (in present-day Assam). Proud of a boon, he conquered the heavens, took the earrings of Aditi, mother of the gods, and imprisoned sixteen thousand princesses. The Bhagavata Purana (10.59) tells how Krishna flew to his city on Garuda with Satyabhama, broke through its defences and killed him with the Sudarshan chakra.

Bhudevi herself asked that the day of her son's death be remembered not with mourning but with lamps and celebration. Krishna then restored the earrings to Aditi and gave the freed women honour and a home. In some tellings Satyabhama — an incarnation of Bhudevi — strikes the final blow.

Narak Chaturdashi puja vidhi, step by step

How Narak Chaturdashi is usually kept at home. Customs vary by region — follow your family's tradition.

What you need

• Sesame oil for the abhyanga, ubtan (gram flour, turmeric, sandal) or a herbal paste
• An apamarga (chirchita) twig, if your family uses it
• A four-wick clay lamp or 14 small diyas for the evening
• Rangoli colours and diyas for the house
• Sweets and savouries for Diwali

When to do the puja

In 2026 Narak Chaturdashi falls on Sunday, 8 November — the same day as Diwali Lakshmi Puja, because Chaturdashi holds at dawn and Amavasya by evening; in 2027 it falls on Thursday, 28 October, the day before Diwali. The abhyanga snan is done before sunrise; lamps for Yama are lit at dusk. Check the Panchang for your city. See the Panchang for your city.

Steps

1. Before sunrise. Rise early and massage the body with warm sesame oil, then apply ubtan and bathe.
2. Apamarga. In many homes the apamarga twig is turned around the head three times during the bath while reciting its verse.
3. Worship. Wear new or clean clothes, worship Krishna and the family deity, and offer sweets.
4. Clean and decorate. Finish cleaning the house, draw rangoli and hang torans for Diwali.
5. Yama deepa. At dusk, light a four-wick lamp facing south outside the door, or fourteen small diyas as in Bengal, praying for the family's protection.

Offerings & food: Sweets and savouries made for Diwali, karanji, chakli, ladoo; in Tamil Nadu, Deepavali lehiyam and sweets after the Ganga snanam

Mantras for Narak Chaturdashi

Narak Chaturdashi across India

Deepavali proper in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka (Naraka Chaturdashi morning), Roop Chaudas in Rajasthan and Gujarat, Kali Chaudas in Gujarat, Bhoot Chaturdashi with 14 lamps in Bengal

Tamil Nadu and Karnataka

This is Deepavali itself: oil bath before dawn, new clothes, sweets and crackers in the morning, and visits to temples.

Maharashtra and Goa

Abhyanga snan with utane, and in Goa effigies of Narakasura are burned before dawn.

Rajasthan and Gujarat

Roop Chaudas — a day of beauty rituals and cleansing; in Gujarat, Kali Chaudas with worship of Hanuman and Kali for protection.

Bengal

Bhoot Chaturdashi: fourteen lamps lit for fourteen generations of ancestors, and fourteen leafy greens (choddo shaak) eaten; Kali Puja follows on Amavasya.

North India

Choti Diwali — a smaller round of lamps and sweets; some families worship Hanuman, whose birth is celebrated on this day in parts of the North.

Prayers to recite

Do’s and don’ts

Temples to visit for Narak Chaturdashi

Dwarkadhish TempleDwarka, GujaratKamakhya TempleGuwahati, Assam

Frequently asked questions