Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) 2026
Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) 2026 falls on in Delhi, India (Pradosh Kaal, computed for local sunset).
Two dating conventions exist for this festival. Calendars that date this day by the Arunodaya convention (the tithi current in the 96 minutes before sunrise) place Naraka Chaturdashi a day later in years when Chaturdashi begins late — on the same date as Lakshmi Puja, with the abhyanga snan (pre-dawn oil bath) taken that morning. This page follows the mainstream festival-calendar dating: Chaturdashi current at Pradosh, the evening of Yama deepam.
Dates are computed for Delhi, India (Udaya Tithi, Smarta convention; Pradosh dated by sunset, Sankashti by moonrise). See about for the full method and the Vaishnava difference on kshaya dates.
About Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali)
Naraka Chaturdashi, widely known as Choti Diwali, falls on the Chaturdashi of the waning fortnight and commemorates Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura, who had held thousands of women captive.
The day begins before sunrise with the abhyanga snan — a bath taken after a sesame-oil massage, believed to wash away the year's weariness. Lamps are lit at dusk and sweets are exchanged; in South India this day is the principal Deepavali observance.
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Day details for
| Tithi at sunrise | Krishna Trayodasi |
|---|---|
| Tithi window | 10:31 (-1 day) – 10:48 |
| Nakshatra | Chitra |
| Sunrise | 06:37 IST |
| Sunset | 17:31 IST |
| Moonrise | 04:38 |
| Moonset | 16:06 |
| Madhyahna (local noon) | 12:04 |
| Pradosh Kaal (2 Muhurta after sunset) | 17:31 – 19:07 |
| Nishita Kaal (8th of 15 night divisions) | 23:38 – 00:31 (+1 day) |
All times are for Delhi, India (IST). The festival-specific observance anchor for this page is Pradosh Kaal, computed for local sunset.
Year comparison
| Year | Date | Weekday | Tithi at sunrise (window) | Dating anchor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday | 10:31 (-1 day) – 10:48 | Pradosh Kaal, computed for local sunset | |
| 2027 | Thursday | 22:50 (-1 day) – 20:48 | Pradosh Kaal, computed for local sunset |
Other years
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Methodology and reference
Dates on this page are computed astronomically — sidereal solar and lunar longitudes with the Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) ayanamsa — and dated by the classical rules of Dharmasindhu and Muhurta Chintamani (Udaya Tithi, Pradosh-vyapini and Aparahna conventions as applicable). Every value is regression-checked against Rashtriya Panchang, the official almanac compiled by Positional Astronomy Centre, IMD (Government of India) in Kolkata; the full method is described on the about page.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) in 2026?
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) 2026 falls on Saturday, 7 November 2026 in Delhi, India (Pradosh Kaal, computed for local sunset).
- What is Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali)?
- Naraka Chaturdashi, widely known as Choti Diwali, falls on the Chaturdashi of the waning fortnight and commemorates Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura, who had held thousands of women captive.
- How is Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) observed?
- The day begins before sunrise with the abhyanga snan — a bath taken after a sesame-oil massage, believed to wash away the year's weariness. Lamps are lit at dusk and sweets are exchanged; in South India this day is the principal Deepavali observance.
- Why might Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) fall on a different day elsewhere?
- Observance dates follow the tithi current at local sunrise, so cities with different sunrise times can observe a day earlier or later. Vaishnava calendars also shift dates when a tithi touches no sunrise (kshaya).
- Why do some calendars show Choti Diwali on the same day as Diwali?
- Calendars that date Naraka Chaturdashi by the Arunodaya convention (the tithi current in the 96 minutes before sunrise) place it a day later in years when Chaturdashi begins late — on the same date as Lakshmi Puja, with the pre-dawn abhyanga snan taken that morning. This page follows the mainstream festival-calendar dating: Chaturdashi current at Pradosh.