Naraka Chaturdashi 2026

When Is Naraka Chaturdashi in 2026?

In 2026, Naraka Chaturdashi falls on November 7. The observance lasts 1 day. Because Naraka Chaturdashi follows a 14th lunar day (Chaturdashi) of Krishna Paksha of Kartik month; the day before Diwali (Tamil Deepavali is observed on this day, not the amavasya), the exact Gregorian date shifts each year. In Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia, Deepavali is celebrated on Naraka Chaturdashi (the day before the North Indian amavasya Diwali), so the Gregorian date differs by one day between Tamil and North Indian communities for the same festival. Since Naraka Chaturdashi's date changes from year to year, here are the dates for the next five years so you can plan ahead: Year Date 2026 November 7 2027 October 28 2028 October 16 2029 November 4 2030 October 25

What Time Does Naraka Chaturdashi Start in Your Time Zone?

Naraka Chaturdashi falls on the 14th lunar day of the dark fortnight of Kartik — the day before the main Diwali night. In 2026, Naraka Chaturdashi falls on November 7. The early-morning oil bath is performed before sunrise, so the exact timing depends on local sunrise, which varies by latitude and longitude. In some years, the chaturdashi tithi (lunar day) overlaps with the amavasya (new moon) tithi, in which case Naraka Chaturdashi and Diwali are celebrated on the same day. In 2026, they fall on consecutive days — Naraka Chaturdashi on November 7 and Diwali on November 8. The sequence of the five-day Diwali festival (Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj) is calculated by the lunar tithis, which can sometimes cause days to be combined or shifted. The table below shows the observance date for Naraka Chaturdashi in major time zones around the world: Location Observance Date Time Zone New York, USA November 7 EST/EDT (UTC-5/-4) London, UK November 7 GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1) New Delhi, India November 7 IST (UTC+5:30) Sydney, Australia November 7 AEST/AEDT (UTC+10/+11) Dubai, UAE November 7 GST (UTC+4)

The Story Behind Naraka Chaturdashi

Naraka Chaturdashi — also called Choti Diwali ("small Diwali"), Kali Chaudas, or Roop Chaudas — is the second day of the five-day Diwali festival, observed on the 14th lunar day of the dark fortnight of Kartik. The festival commemorates the defeat of the demon Narakasura by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama, a victory that freed 16,000 captive women and restored light to the world. According to the Bhagavata Purana, Narakasura was a powerful demon king who had stolen the earrings of Aditi (the mother of the gods) and kidnapped 16,000 women. Krishna, with Satyabhama as his charioteer, fought a fierce battle with Narakasura and finally killed him with his Sudarshana Chakra (a divine discus). As Narakasura lay dying, he asked Krishna for a boon: that his death be celebrated with lights and festivities. Krishna granted the request, and the day of Narakasura's death became Naraka Chaturdashi — a celebration of the victory of good over evil. Some traditions associate the festival with the goddess Kali, who is worshipped on this day in parts of Bengal and the eastern states. In these traditions, the day is called Kali Chaudas ("the dark fourteenth"), and the goddess is invoked to destroy the darkness of ignorance and evil. The day is also associated with Hanuman in some regions — particularly in Maharashtra, where Hanuman is said to have been born on this day, and where devotees perform special pujas at Hanuman temples.

How Naraka Chaturdashi Is Celebrated

The most distinctive Naraka Chaturdashi tradition is the early-morning oil bath (abhyanga snan). Before dawn, families apply scented oil to their bodies — particularly the head — and then bathe with warm water and fragrant powders. The bath is so central to the festival that in some regions the day is simply called "the day of the bath" (Roop Chaudas, with "roop" referring to the beauty that the bath bestows). The bath is taken before sunrise, with the belief that the early-morning hours on Naraka Chaturdashi are as auspicious as a dip in the Ganges. After the bath, families light small oil lamps (diyas) and place them around the home. The lamps are traditionally made of clay, filled with ghee or mustard oil, and have cotton wicks. In South India, the day is particularly associated with the lighting of lamps, and homes are illuminated from early morning. Rangoli patterns are drawn at the doorstep, and in some regions, effigies of Narakasura are burned to symbolize the demon's defeat. Food traditions vary by region. In Maharashtra, families eat a special breakfast of sweet preparations like chivda (a savory mix of flattened rice, nuts, and spices), chakli (spiral-shaped fried snacks), and ladoos. In South India, the day is associated with the preparation of various sweets and snacks, including murukku, mixture, and athirasam. Some traditions associate the day with the practice of crushing a bitter fruit (typically a karit or karela, bitter gourd) underfoot, symbolizing the destruction of Narakasura. The bitter fruit is then eaten as a prasad (blessed food), with the bitterness representing the trials that Narakasura inflicted and the sweetness of the prasad representing the joy of his defeat. Why Does Naraka Chaturdashi Move Every Year? Naraka Chaturdashi is fixed on the chaturdashi of the dark fortnight of Kartik in the Hindu lunisolar calendar. The calendar's leap-month system keeps the festival anchored in late October or November. The astronomical anchor is the moon one day before the new moon of Kartik — meaning the festival falls on a night when the moon is barely visible, the darkest night before the new moon.

Calendar Calculation

14th lunar day (Chaturdashi) of Krishna Paksha of Kartik month; the day before Diwali (Tamil Deepavali is observed on this day, not the amavasya)

Did You Know? Naraka Chaturdashi Facts & Trivia

Naraka Chaturdashi — also called Choti Diwali ("small Diwali") — commemorates the defeat of the demon Narakasura by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. According to the legend, Narakasura had stolen the earrings of Aditi (the mother of the gods) and kidnapped 16,000 women, whom Krishna freed. The most distinctive Naraka Chaturdashi tradition is the early-morning oil bath (abhyanga snan), taken before dawn. The bath is so central to the festival that in some regions the day is called "the day of the bath" (Roop Chaudas), with the belief that the early-morning hours are as auspicious as a dip in the Ganges. The tradition of crushing a bitter fruit (typically a karit or karela, bitter gourd) underfoot on Naraka Chaturdashi symbolizes the destruction of Narakasura. The bitter fruit is then eaten as a prasad (blessed food), with the bitterness representing the trials that Narakasura inflicted and the sweetness of the prasad representing the joy of his defeat. In some traditions, the festival is associated with the goddess Kali, who is worshipped on this day in parts of Bengal. In these traditions, the day is called Kali Chaudas ("the dark fourteenth"), and the goddess is invoked to destroy the darkness of ignorance and evil.