Narak Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali): Sunday, 8 November 2026. Abhyang Snan in New Delhi: 05:41–06:38 IST.
Timings in New Delhi
- Abhyang Snan
- 05:41–06:38
- Chaturdashi tithi
- 7 Nov, 10:48 – 8 Nov, 11:28
Timings for your city
| City | Abhyang Snan |
|---|---|
| New Delhi | 05:41–06:38 |
| Mumbai | 05:45–06:42 |
| Kolkata | 04:45–05:45 |
| Chennai | 05:06–06:05 |
| Bengaluru | 05:17–06:15 |
| Hyderabad | 05:19–06:17 |
| Ahmedabad | 05:52–06:49 |
| Jaipur | 05:44–06:41 |
| Lucknow | 05:23–06:21 |
| Patna | 05:03–06:02 |
How we calculate this
- Abhyang Snan: From moonrise to sunrise while Chaturdashi prevails
- Computed with Swiss Ephemeris (Lahiri) from each city's own sunrise and sunset. Other almanacs can differ by a minute or two.
Narak Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali) (नरक चतुर्दशी (छोटी दिवाली)) is a festival falling in the Hindu lunar month of कार्तिक. Its position is fixed by tithi rather than by the Gregorian calendar, so the date moves every year and is computed from the panchang. No fast is prescribed for the day.
Narak Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali)
नरक चतुर्दशी (छोटी दिवाली)
Hindu month: कार्तिक
Panchang Basis (Tithi Rule)
Kartika Krishna Chaturdashi fixes the day, so the English date moves each year.
Amanta panchangs (Maharashtra, Gujarat, South India) call this fortnight Ashvina Krishna Paksha; the date is the same.
About This Festival
Chhoti Diwali — the day Krishna and Satyabhama freed the world of Narakasura. Homes light fourteen diyas at dusk, and the pre-dawn abhyang snan with ubtan and til oil washes the year's paap away before the great night of Lakshmi Puja.
छोटी दिवाली — श्रीकृष्ण और सत्यभामा द्वारा नरकासुर के वध का दिन। संध्या को चौदह दीप जलाए जाते हैं और भोर से पहले तिल-तेल व उबटन से अभ्यंग स्नान कर पापों का शमन किया जाता है।
Significance
Marks Krishna's victory over Narakasura and the release of sixteen thousand captives — the triumph of light over accumulated adharma. The pre-sunrise abhyang snan is the day's defining rite: oil bath before dawn is said to equal a Ganga snan, cleansing narak-fear for the year. A diya for Yama, placed facing south at the doorway in the evening, petitions the lord of death for the household's protection — the only day of the year his lamp is set out. In the South the same morning is celebrated as the main Deepavali.
Puja Vidhi (How to Observe)
Wake in the last prahar of night and massage the body with til oil and ubtan, then bathe before sunrise — the abhyang snan. Wear fresh clothes. In the evening light fourteen diyas around the home, with one four-mukhi diya for Yama at the entrance facing south, offered with roli and akshat. Some households perform a short Krishna puja recalling the Narakasura vadh. Keep the house lamps burning into the night as Diwali eve begins.
Regional Names
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Narak Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali) celebrated?
Narak Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali) falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026 and on Thursday, 28 October 2027.
Is Narak Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali) a fasting (vrat) day?
No, no fast is prescribed for Narak Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali).
Dates in recent and coming years
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2023 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2025 | |
| 2026 | |
| 2027 | |
| 2028 | |
| 2029 | |
| 2030 |
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