When is Narak Chaturdashi 2026?

Sunday, 8 November 2026. It is Chaturdashi of Krishna paksha in Ashwin, and that tithi runs from 7 Nov, 10:48 AM to 8 Nov, 11:28 AM.

Yes. Narak Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) and Diwali's Lakshmi Puja are both on Sun 8 Nov: Chaturdashi is still running before sunrise that morning, when the abhyang snan is taken, and Amavasya is running that evening, when Lakshmi Puja is done.

Three honest reasons. The tithi can be running at the deciding moment on two days or on none. North India reckons the month purnimanta and the south and west amanta, which names the same krishna fortnight differently. And almanacs differ on which moment of the day decides an observance. The instants above are the astronomy; the day is an interpretation of them.

In New Delhi the Abhyang Snan window on Sunday, 8 November 2026 is 5:36 AM to 6:37 AM: from moonrise in the last part of the night until sunrise, while Chaturdashi runs. Oil yourself, rub off with ubtan and finish the bath before the sun is up; many families bathe in the Brahma Muhurta (4:53 AM to 5:45 AM) part of the window.

It is the Chaturdashi of the dark fortnight before Diwali's new moon, the day Krishna killed the demon Narakasura. Families take an oil-and-ubtan bath before sunrise, clear the house of what is broken, worship Krishna and light lamps for Yama in the evening. It is called Choti Diwali in the north, Roop Chaudas in Rajasthan and Kali Chaudas in Gujarat.

Roop Chaudas is the name Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh give the Narak Chaturdashi morning, when the dawn bath is taken for beauty and well-being. A simple ubtan is gram flour, a pinch of turmeric and sandalwood powder mixed with a little milk, curd or rose water. Apply it after the sesame-oil massage, let it dry slightly, rub it off and bathe before sunrise.

Choti Diwali has two timings rather than one puja muhurat. The morning bath and Krishna puja fall in the Abhyang Snan window (5:36 AM to 6:37 AM) and just after sunrise. The evening lamps, including the lamp for Yama facing south, are lit in pradosh kaal (5:31 PM to 8:08 PM). The main Lakshmi puja is the next evening, on Diwali.

The custom is fourteen, one for each tithi up to Chaturdashi, placed at the main door, the kitchen, the water source, the tulsi and around the house. Many families also set one lamp for Yama outside the main door facing south. Bengal's Bhoot Chaturdashi keeps the same fourteen lamps for the ancestors.

It is the same Chaturdashi kept differently. Kali Chaudas, mainly in Gujarat, is the night worship of Mahakali and Hanuman, timed to the middle of the night while Chaturdashi holds: in New Delhi that is 11:38 PM (7 Nov) to 12:31 AM. Narak Chaturdashi's bath is decided at dawn, so Kali Chaudas can fall on the night before the Narak Chaturdashi morning.

Narakasura, son of the Earth, held sixteen thousand princesses captive and stole the earrings of Aditi and the umbrella of Varuna. The Bhagavata Purana tells how Krishna flew to his fortress on Garuda with Satyabhama, killed him with his discus and freed the captives. Tradition says Naraka asked that his end be remembered with lamps, which is why the day is lit.

Bathe with oil and ubtan before sunrise, put on clean clothes and light a lamp before Krishna with flowers, tulsi and a sweet, chanting Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya. Where it is the custom, worship Hanuman with sindoor and read the Chalisa. In the evening light fourteen diyas and set a lamp for Yama facing south. The steps above give the full order.

Yes, in many homes. The Puranic rule most panchangs follow places Yam Deepdaan on Dhanteras evening, and many North Indian families light another lamp for Yama on Choti Diwali at dusk, facing south outside the main door. If your family lights it only once, Dhanteras is the usual day; both customs are respected.

In the Ayodhya tradition Hanuman was born on this Kartika Chaturdashi, so Hanumangarhi and many North Indian homes keep his birthday today, though Chaitra Purnima is the more widely kept date. In Gujarat, Kali Chaudas night is given to Hanuman and Mahakali as protectors; families offer sindoor with jasmine oil and read the Hanuman Chalisa.

Usually, but not always. Narak Chaturdashi is the day whose dawn carries Chaturdashi, while Diwali's Lakshmi puja needs Amavasya in the evening. When Chaturdashi ends during the day and Amavasya runs that evening, both fall on the same date. The tithi window above shows how the two days line up this year in New Delhi.

The entrance is decorated again for Diwali: diyas, a lotus, Krishna's flute and peacock feathers, or Lakshmi's footprints walking in. Gujarat makes rangoli for Kali Chaudas in the evening, and Maharashtra draws it at dawn after the abhyanga snan. Rice flour, coloured powder or flower petals all serve.

Do not put off the bath until after sunrise, keep broken lamps or vessels in the house, or light the lamp for Yama indoors. Many families avoid meat and alcohol through the Diwali days. There is no need to fear Kali Chaudas night; it is kept as a night of the goddess's protection, with lamps and prayer.