Choti Diwali 2026: Narak Chaturdashi Date, Abhyang Snan Muhurat
Narak Chaturdashi falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, the same day as Lakshmi Puja. Here are abhyang snan timings by city, rituals and regional traditions.
Narak Chaturdashi, also called Choti Diwali, falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. That is the same day as Lakshmi Puja this year: the abhyang snan (oil bath) happens before sunrise and the main Diwali puja in the evening. In New Delhi the abhyang snan muhurat is 5:41 AM to 6:38 AM. This guide covers city-wise snan timings, why Kali Chaudas falls a day earlier on 7 November, the rituals step by step, and how different regions celebrate the day.
Key Takeaways
- Narak Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali, Roop Chaudas) is on Sunday, 8 November 2026, per Drik Panchang for Indian cities.
- The abhyang snan window is short, about one hour before sunrise: 5:41 AM to 6:38 AM in New Delhi, 5:45 AM to 6:42 AM in Mumbai and 5:06 AM to 6:05 AM in Chennai.
- Chaturdashi tithi runs from 10:47 AM on 7 November to 11:27 AM on 8 November 2026.
- Kali Chaudas and Hanuman Puja fall a day earlier, on Saturday 7 November, because they need Chaturdashi at midnight.
- Because Choti Diwali and Badi Diwali share a date this year, many families will light their first diyas on Saturday evening and keep Sunday for the bath, the puja and the main celebration.
Updated October 2026. Dates and timings below are taken from Drik Panchang’s 2026 pages for each city. Regional panchangs and family pandits sometimes differ by a few minutes or, rarely, by a day. Where your family calendar says something else, follow it.
Choti Diwali 2026: The Quick Answer
| Detail | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Narak Chaturdashi / Choti Diwali | Sunday, 8 November 2026 |
| Abhyang snan muhurat (New Delhi) | 5:41 AM to 6:38 AM (57 minutes) |
| Chaturdashi tithi begins | 10:47 AM, Saturday 7 November 2026 |
| Chaturdashi tithi ends | 11:27 AM, Sunday 8 November 2026 |
| Kali Chaudas and Hanuman Puja | Saturday, 7 November 2026 |
| Kali Chaudas puja muhurat (New Delhi) | 11:39 PM on 7 November to 12:31 AM on 8 November |
| Lakshmi Puja (main Diwali) | Sunday, 8 November 2026, in the evening |
| Tamil Deepavali | Sunday, 8 November 2026 |
The source for these timings is the Drik Panchang Abhyang Snan 2026 page, where you can switch to your own city.
Abhyang Snan Muhurat 2026 for Major Cities
Abhyang snan is done after moonrise but before sunrise, while Chaturdashi tithi is still running. Since sunrise differs across India, so does the window.
| City | Date | Abhyang snan muhurat | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | Sunday, 8 Nov | 5:41 AM to 6:38 AM | 57 min |
| Mumbai | Sunday, 8 Nov | 5:45 AM to 6:42 AM | 57 min |
| Kolkata | Sunday, 8 Nov | 4:45 AM to 5:45 AM | about 59 min |
| Chennai | Sunday, 8 Nov | 5:06 AM to 6:05 AM | 58 min |
| Bengaluru | Sunday, 8 Nov | 5:17 AM to 6:15 AM | 58 min |
| Ahmedabad | Sunday, 8 Nov | 5:52 AM to 6:48 AM | 57 min |
The window is under an hour everywhere, so plan the morning the night before. Keep the oil, ubtan and fresh clothes in the bathroom, set two alarms, and if several family members need to bathe, start with the elders.
Why Choti Diwali and Diwali Fall on the Same Day in 2026
Most years, Choti Diwali comes one day before the main Diwali. In 2026 the tithis line up differently. Chaturdashi begins at 10:47 AM on Saturday and ends at 11:27 AM on Sunday. Abhyang snan needs Chaturdashi at dawn, which only Sunday morning has. Lakshmi Puja needs Amavasya in the evening (pradosh kaal), which Sunday evening also has. So both fall on Sunday, 8 November.
Drik Panchang explains that this overlap happens whenever Chaturdashi is present before sunrise and Amavasya is present after sunset on the same day. It is not a mistake in the calendar, and it has happened in earlier years too.
What about Saturday, 7 November?
Saturday is still an important day. Kali Chaudas and Hanuman Puja are observed on 7 November because they are decided by Chaturdashi at midnight (Maha Nishita time), and Chaturdashi is running at midnight on Saturday night. You can check this on the Drik Panchang Kali Chaudas 2026 page. Many families who usually light a few diyas on “Choti Diwali evening” will do so on Saturday evening this year. Others will light everything on Sunday. Both are common, so follow your family custom.
The Story of Narak Chaturdashi
The day marks Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasura, a demon king who had captured thousands of women and terrorised the heavens and earth. In the most popular telling, Krishna, with his wife Satyabhama, defeated Narakasura on Chaturdashi, freed the captives and restored order. Before dying, Narakasura is said to have asked that the day be celebrated with lights. That is why people wake early, bathe, wear fresh clothes and light lamps.
A second meaning comes from the name itself. “Narak” means hell. The early oil bath and prayers are believed to free a person from the fear of hell and from sins committed during the year. A third name, Roop Chaudas or Roop Chaturdashi, is popular in Rajasthan and parts of north India. It celebrates beauty and self-care, which is why ubtan and grooming are part of the day.
Abhyang Snan Vidhi, Step by Step
The oil bath is the heart of Narak Chaturdashi. Here is the order most homes follow.
- Prepare the night before. Keep til (sesame) oil, ubtan, a clean towel and new or freshly washed clothes ready. Drik Panchang notes that til oil is the traditional choice.
- Wake before the muhurat. In Delhi that means waking around 5:00 AM on Sunday, 8 November.
- Oil massage (abhyang). Massage warm til oil into the scalp and body. In many homes, the mother or an elder applies the first bit of oil as a blessing.
- Apply ubtan. A simple ubtan is besan, a pinch of haldi, a little sandalwood powder and milk or rose water. Rub it on after the oil, then rinse.
- Bathe within the muhurat. Some families keep apamarg (chirchita) leaves and move them around the head during the bath as a traditional act of purification.
- Wear fresh clothes and pray. Offer a short prayer to Lord Krishna, and in some families to Yama, the god of death, for a long and healthy life.
- Eat a festive breakfast. In Maharashtra this is the moment for faral (the Diwali snack platter). In Tamil Nadu, families eat sweets and wear new clothes right after the oil bath.
What to keep ready the night before
- A small bowl of til oil, warmed slightly just before use
- Ubtan mixed in a steel or brass katori, or the dry ingredients ready to mix with milk
- Apamarg leaves, if your family uses them
- New or freshly washed clothes for every family member
- A diya and matchbox near the house temple for the short morning prayer
- Something sweet for breakfast, so nobody starts the festival day on an empty stomach
If you are travelling to your hometown for Diwali, carry a small bottle of til oil and a packet of ubtan in your bag. Hotel and guest-house mornings get rushed, and having your own kit saves a frantic search at 5 AM.
A quick health note
If anyone in the family has a skin condition, allergies or is unwell, use a mild oil and skip strong ubtan ingredients. Test a new ubtan on a small patch of skin a day earlier. Very early cold baths are hard on elders, so use warm water and keep the room warm.
Rituals for the Evening and Night
Besides the morning bath, several smaller customs belong to Narak Chaturdashi and Kali Chaudas. Families pick the ones they grew up with.
- Yama diya: A lamp for Yama facing south. Drik Panchang places Yama Deepam on Dhanteras (6 November) in 2026, though some north Indian families light it on Choti Diwali night.
- Chaudah diye: Many homes in north India light fourteen diyas, one for each of the fourteen worlds or for ancestors, placed at the door, kitchen, water tank and other corners of the home.
- Hanuman puja: In parts of north and west India, Hanuman ji is worshipped on Kali Chaudas (7 November) with sindoor, oil and boondi for protection.
- Kali Chaudas puja: In Gujarat, families pray to Mahakali on Saturday night to remove fear and negative energy. Some keep vada or kakdi offerings at a crossroads.
- Cleaning one last time: Many homes remove old, broken items and sweep the house before Lakshmi Puja.
How Different Regions Celebrate Choti Diwali
The same tithi carries a different flavour in each part of India. This table gives a quick picture.
| Region | Local name | What families do |
|---|---|---|
| North India (Delhi, UP, Haryana, Punjab) | Choti Diwali | Light a few diyas in the evening, clean the house, final shopping, lamp for Yama |
| Rajasthan | Roop Chaudas | Ubtan, beauty rituals and grooming in the morning, lamps at night |
| Maharashtra | Narak Chaturdashi | Abhyang snan with utane, crushing a bitter karit fruit underfoot as a symbol of Narakasura’s defeat, faral breakfast |
| Goa | Narakasur Chaturdashi | Large Narakasura effigies built by neighbourhood groups and burnt before dawn |
| Gujarat | Kali Chaudas | Mahakali and Hanuman puja at night on 7 November in 2026, protection rituals |
| Tamil Nadu | Deepavali | The main festival itself: pre-dawn oil bath, new clothes, sweets and crackers on 8 November |
| Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana | Naraka Chaturdashi | Early oil bath, new clothes and lamps; the first day of Deepavali celebrations |
| West Bengal | Bhoot Chaturdashi | Fourteen lamps lit and fourteen kinds of leafy greens (choddo shaak) eaten to keep away evil spirits |
In Bengal, Kali Puja is also listed on 8 November 2026 in the Drik Panchang calendar, which adds to the busy night.
A Simple Plan for the Diwali Weekend
With Kali Chaudas on Saturday and both Choti and Badi Diwali on Sunday, 2026 gives you a packed weekend. Here is a practical timeline.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Friday, 6 November (Dhanteras) | Buy utensils or gold if you plan to, finish sweets, keep oil and ubtan ready |
| Saturday, 7 November (day) | Final cleaning, rangoli, set up the Lakshmi Puja chowki |
| Saturday, 7 November (evening) | Light a few diyas if your family marks Choti Diwali evening; Hanuman or Kali Chaudas puja at night |
| Sunday, 8 November (pre-dawn) | Abhyang snan in your city’s muhurat |
| Sunday, 8 November (day) | Rest, visit relatives, keep puja items ready |
| Sunday, 8 November (evening) | Lakshmi Puja, diyas everywhere, family dinner |
| Tuesday, 10 November | Govardhan Puja and Gujarati New Year |
| Wednesday, 11 November | Bhai Dooj |
For the full five-day calendar with Lakshmi Puja timing, see our Diwali 2026 calendar, and for the evening puja steps read our guide to Lakshmi Puja vidhi at home. Drik Panchang’s Diwali 2026 calendar has the full day-wise list.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Choti Diwali in 2026?
Narak Chaturdashi, known as Choti Diwali, is on Sunday, 8 November 2026, as per Drik Panchang for Indian cities. It shares the date with Lakshmi Puja this year.
What is the abhyang snan time on Narak Chaturdashi 2026?
In New Delhi the abhyang snan muhurat is 5:41 AM to 6:38 AM on 8 November. It is 5:45 AM to 6:42 AM in Mumbai, 4:45 AM to 5:45 AM in Kolkata, 5:06 AM to 6:05 AM in Chennai, 5:17 AM to 6:15 AM in Bengaluru and 5:52 AM to 6:48 AM in Ahmedabad.
Is Kali Chaudas on the same day as Narak Chaturdashi in 2026?
No. Kali Chaudas is on Saturday, 7 November 2026, because it depends on Chaturdashi at midnight. Narak Chaturdashi is on Sunday, 8 November, because it depends on Chaturdashi at dawn. Drik Panchang notes the two are different festivals that can fall on consecutive days.
Why are Choti Diwali and Diwali on the same day this year?
Chaturdashi tithi is present at sunrise on 8 November, and Amavasya tithi is present after sunset the same day. The morning ritual and the evening Lakshmi Puja therefore both fall on Sunday.
Which oil should be used for abhyang snan?
Til (sesame) oil is the traditional choice, followed by an ubtan of besan, haldi and sandalwood. If you have sensitive skin, use a mild oil and patch-test the ubtan.
Is Narak Chaturdashi a bank holiday in 2026?
Since it falls on a Sunday this year, banks are closed anyway. State-wise Diwali holidays later in the week vary, so check your state’s list or your bank’s notice.
Wishing You a Bright, Safe Diwali Weekend
This year’s Choti Diwali is unusual, sharing its date with the main festival, so the morning bath and the evening puja come within hours of each other. Note your city’s snan window, decide as a family whether you light diyas on Saturday evening, and keep Sunday relaxed until the puja. Small preparation the night before makes the whole day feel calm instead of rushed.
