Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) 2026

November 2026

Sunday

Krishna

Choti Diwali: the day before Lakshmi Puja

Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) Puja Timings

Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) on Sunday, November 8, 2026

Kartik, Krishna Paksha, Chaturdashi

Begins: 10:48 AM, Nov 07 · Ends: 11:28 AM, Nov 08

Duration: 1 day

19 days

About Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali)

Naraka Chaturdashi, also called Choti Diwali, is the fourteenth day (Chaturdashi) of the dark fortnight of Kartik and the day before Diwali's Lakshmi Puja. It commemorates the defeat of the demon Naraka by Krishna.

It is marked with an early-morning oil bath and ubtan (Abhyang Snan) before sunrise, followed by lamps lit at dusk. In Gujarat and parts of Western India the same day is known as Kali Chaudas. Calendars sometimes differ by a day on when to observe it, because Chaturdashi can span two dates; this site shows the date on which Chaturdashi is present in the pre-dawn window.

Significance

Symbolises the victory of light over darkness on the eve of Diwali, with the ritual bath meant to cleanse the body and spirit before Lakshmi Puja.

How to Observe

Take the Abhyang Snan (sesame-oil massage and bath) before sunrise
Light diyas at the entrance and around the home in the evening
Prepare for Lakshmi Puja the following day
Follow family custom for any additional prayers, such as Kali worship in Gujarat and Bengal

Regional Variations

Gujarat & Western India

Observed as Kali Chaudas, with worship of Goddess Kali and Hanuman in some families.

North India

Choti Diwali, with the early bath and evening lamps.

South India

Observed as the main Diwali day, with the ritual oil bath at dawn (Deepavali Snanam).

Related Festivals & Vrats

Dhanteras Diwali / Lakshmi Puja Govardhan Puja

Notes: Date and timings shown are computed for New Delhi, India using Swiss Ephemeris. Computed via the Udaya Tithi (tithi prevailing at sunrise) convention and the purnimanta month naming both already used by /api/panchang and vrat_engine.py's Janmashtami/Shraddha types. A tithi that never touches a sunrise (Kshaya) falls back to a midday-anchor scan instead of returning no date — see module docstring's Kshaya Tithi finding; one spanning two sunrises (Vriddhi) can still produce two consecutive dates, unresolved beyond the plain rule. Same date rule as the Diwali cluster (the pre-dawn Chaturdashi window before Lakshmi Puja, i.e. Kali Chaudas / Abhyang Snan morning). Some calendars observe Choti Diwali on the evening before instead; sources in Nov 2026 split between Nov 7 and Nov 8. Always cross-check with your family priest for a personalised Muhurat.

Panchang for Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) Day Choghadiya Muhurat

Frequently Asked Questions

Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) 2026 mein kab hai?

Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) 2026 mein Sunday, 8 November ko hai (New Delhi ke panchang ke anusaar). Tithi: Kartik, Krishna Paksha, Chaturdashi. Yeh tithi 10:48 AM, Nov 07 se 11:28 AM, Nov 08 tak rehti hai. Apne shehar ke hisaab se samay thoda alag ho sakta hai.

Why does this festival's date change every year on the Gregorian calendar?

Most Hindu festivals are set by the lunar Hindu calendar (a specific Tithi within a specific lunar month), not the solar Gregorian calendar used internationally. Since a lunar year runs roughly 11 days shorter than a solar year, the same Tithi lands on a different Gregorian date each year — this is normal and expected, not an error.