Narak Chaturdashi 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026 in India. It is the Chaturdashi (14th lunar day) of Krishna Paksha in Kartik month, observed the day before Diwali in most years. The day marks Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura

and is celebrated with a pre-dawn oil bath (Abhyang Snan) and a lamp for Yama, the lord

of death.

In 2026 the tithis overlap, so Abhyang Snan and the main Diwali Lakshmi Puja fall on the same date, 8 November. The evening rituals of Choti Diwali, such as Yam Deepam, are kept on the evening of 7 November, when Chaturdashi is running at dusk.

Quick answer

• What: A Diwali-week festival of cleansing — of the body, the home and the
• When: Abhyang Snan on 8 November 2026, 5:41 AM to 6:38 AM (Delhi-NCR).

• Why: To remember the end of Narakasura and symbolically clear out negativity before Lakshmi Puja.
• Also called: Choti Diwali, Roop Chaudas, Kali Chaudas, Bhoot

Narak Chaturdashi 2026 date and Abhyang Snan muhurat

The best time for Abhyang Snan in Delhi, Noida and NCR is 5:41 AM to 6:38 AM on 8 November 2026 — a window of about 57 minutes.

Why two dates? Hindu festivals follow the tithi, not the calendar date. Abhyang Snan must happen while Chaturdashi is running, after moonrise and before sunrise. That condition is met only on the morning of 8 November. Evening rituals need Chaturdashi at dusk, which happens on 7 November.

Timings shift by a few minutes in other cities, because sunrise and moonrise depend on location. Readers outside India should note that in the UK, USA and Canada, Narak Chaturdashi falls a day earlier, on 7 November.

What is Narak Chaturdashi? Meaning and story

Narak Chaturdashi means “the fourteenth day of freedom from Narak” (hell). The name points to the festival’s core idea: removing whatever drags a person down before

welcoming prosperity on Diwali.

The story of Krishna and Narakasura

Narakasura, son of Bhudevi (Mother Earth), became a tyrant after gaining great powers. He conquered heaven, took Aditi’s earrings and imprisoned 16,000 women in his capital, Pragjyotishpura. A boon meant he could die only at the hands of his mother.

Lord Krishna went to battle with Satyabhama, an incarnation of Bhudevi. When Krishna was wounded, Satyabhama took up the bow and killed Narakasura. Before dying,

Narakasura asked that his death be celebrated with lights. The freed women were given honour and a home, and the day became a celebration of good over evil.

The oil bath is linked to this story too: Krishna is said to have bathed with oil after the battle to cleanse himself.

Other names of Narak Chaturdashi

Narak Chaturdashi puja vidhi: step by step

The two essential rituals are the Abhyang Snan before sunrise and the Yam Deepam after sunset.

Abhyang Snan (morning of 8 November)

1. Wake up before moonrise, around 5:15
2. Warm a little sesame (til) oil and massage it into the scalp and
3. Apply ubtan — gram flour, turmeric, a pinch of sandalwood and rose water or
4. Bathe with lukewarm water before sunrise (6:38 AM in Delhi-NCR).
5. Wear fresh or new clothes and apply a
6. Offer water to the Sun and pray to Lord

The practical logic: November mornings are dry and cool. A warm oil massage keeps skin from cracking, improves circulation and relaxes muscles after days of Diwali cleaning. Turmeric and gram flour gently cleanse the skin. Waking early also resets the body clock before a late Diwali night.

Yam Deepam (evening of 7 November)

1. After sunset, take an earthen diya with four
2. Fill it with mustard or sesame
3. Place it outside the main door, facing south — the direction of

4. Pray for the health and long life of the

Evening and night rituals

• Light diyas at the entrance, windows, kitchen and water
• Offer prayers to Lord Krishna, Maa Kali and Hanuman
• Many families light a lamp under a peepal tree or near the tulsi

Puja samagri checklist: til oil, ubtan ingredients, earthen diyas, cotton wicks, mustard oil, kumkum, rice, flowers, sweets, incense.

How Narak Chaturdashi is celebrated across India

• North India: Homes are cleaned, broken items are discarded and diyas are lit as Choti
• Goa: Large Narakasura effigies are burnt before dawn, followed by the oil
• South India: The oil bath at dawn begins Deepavali itself, with new clothes and
• West Bengal: Fourteen lamps and fourteen leafy greens honour ancestors on Bhoot Chaturdashi.
• Gujarat and Maharashtra: Kali Chaudas night is for Maa Kali and Hanuman worship; in Maharashtra, a bitter karit fruit is crushed underfoot to symbolise Narakasura’s

Vastu tips for Narak Chaturdashi

Narak Chaturdashi is the ideal day for a Vastu reset before Lakshmi Puja. Each tip below has a simple, practical reason behind it.

1. Clear out the Throw away broken items, stopped clocks, old newspapers and unused electronics. Clutter collects dust, blocks movement and makes a home feel heavy.
2. Clean the North-East (Ishanya) corner first. This is the zone for clarity and prayer. Keeping it light, open and clean makes it the calmest spot for the puja.
3. Place the Yam Deepam facing south at the main The south is linked with

Yama in Vastu. A lit entrance also makes the home safer and more welcoming on a dark new-moon week.

4. Fix leaking taps and dripping pipes. In Vastu, leaks signal wealth draining Practically, they waste water and damage walls.
5. Light diyas at the entrance, kitchen and water Light at entrances and corners removes dark spots where dampness and insects collect.
6. Keep the main door clean and clutter-free. A clear entrance improves air flow and is the first impression for guests on Diwali.
7. Open windows during the morning Fresh morning air and sunlight reduce damp and stale smells left by heavy cleaning.

Want a room-by-room Diwali Vastu check for your home in Noida or Delhi? Book a consultation.

Dos and don’ts on Narak Chaturdashi

Frequently asked questions

When is Narak Chaturdashi in 2026?

Narak Chaturdashi 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November in India. The Abhyang Snan is done that morning, while Choti Diwali evening rituals are kept on 7 November.

What is the Abhyang Snan muhurat in 2026?

In Delhi-NCR, the Abhyang Snan muhurat is 5:41 AM to 6:38 AM on 8 November 2026.

Are Narak Chaturdashi and Choti Diwali the same?

Yes. Both names refer to the same tithi. Narak Chaturdashi highlights Krishna’s victory over Narakasura; Choti Diwali highlights its place before the main Diwali.

Why are Narak Chaturdashi and Diwali on the same day in 2026?

Chaturdashi ends at 11:27 AM on 8 November and Amavasya begins right after. So the morning bath and the evening Lakshmi Puja both fall on 8 November.

Can Abhyang Snan be done after sunrise?

Traditionally, no. The bath should be completed after moonrise and before sunrise while Chaturdashi is running.

Which direction should the Yam Deepam face?

South. Place the four-wick lamp outside the main door after sunset.

Why is it called Roop Chaudas?

“Roop” means beauty. The ubtan and oil bath on this day are seen as rituals for health, skin and inner glow.

What should not be done on Narak Chaturdashi?

Avoid sleeping past sunrise, keeping broken items, quarrelling at home and leaving the entrance dark.

Conclusion

Narak Chaturdashi is a day to clean out what no longer serves you — from dust in the corners to heaviness in the mind. In 2026, take the Abhyang Snan between 5:41 and 6:38 AM on 8 November, light the Yam Deepam on the evening of 7 November, and give your home a mindful reset before Lakshmi Puja.