Naraka Chaturdashi illustration

Annual festival

Kartika Krishna Paksha

Naraka Chaturdashi 2026नरक चतुर्दशी

Naraka Chaturdashi commemorates the triumph of Lord Krishna and Satyabhama over the tyrant demon Narakasura on Kartika Krishna Chaturdashi.

Date · New Delhi (28.6139° N, 77.2090° E)

Saturday, 7 November 2026

Samvat

Vikram 2083 · Shaka 1948

Tradition harmony

All regional traditions Chakra tracks agree on this date:

North (Purnimanta)
7 Nov 2026
South (Amanta)
7 Nov 2026
Tamil
7 Nov 2026
Bengali
7 Nov 2026
ISKCON
7 Nov 2026
Smarta
7 Nov 2026

Tithi window

Begins 7 Nov, 10:48 am

Ends 8 Nov, 11:28 am

Abhijit Muhurta

11:42 am – 12:26 pm

Universal auspicious midday span

Masa note

Nija (Shuddha) Kartika

No intercalary month interference this year.

November 2026

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  • 1 SunAhoi AshtamiAhoi Ashtami is a traditional fasting day observed by mothers for the long life and wellbeing of their children on Kartika Krishna Ashtami.
  • 6 FriDhanterasDhanteras opens the Diwali period and is considered auspicious for buying metal, and for honouring Dhanvantari and Lakshmi.
  • 7 SatNaraka Chaturdashi(this page)Naraka Chaturdashi commemorates the triumph of Lord Krishna and Satyabhama over the tyrant demon Narakasura on Kartika Krishna Chaturdashi.
  • 8 SunDiwaliDiwali is the festival of lights marking the victory of light over darkness and the return of Rama to Ayodhya.
  • 10 TueGovardhan PujaGovardhan Puja recalls Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan to shelter the people of Braj, and is kept the day after Diwali.
  • 11 WedBhai DoojBhai Dooj is the day at the close of Diwali on which sisters apply a tilak to their brothers and pray for their long life.
  • 13 FriChhath PujaChhath is a four-day festival of thanksgiving to the Sun and the goddess Chhathi Maiya, with offerings made standing in water at sunset and sunrise.
  • 16 MonVrishchika SankrantiVrishchika Sankranti is the moment the Sun enters the sidereal sign of Scorpio, opening the month in which the Kartikai and Mandala pilgrimage seasons begin.
  • 20 FriDev Uthani EkadashiDev Uthani Ekadashi marks the awakening of Lord Vishnu from his four-month cosmic slumber, concluding Chaturmas and opening the Hindu wedding season.
  • 21 SatTulsi VivahTulsi Vivah is the ceremonial wedding of the sacred holy basil plant (Tulsi) to Lord Vishnu in the form of Shaligram on Kartika Shukla Dwadashi.
  • 24 TueKartik PurnimaKartik Purnima is the full moon of the month of Kartika, kept with river bathing, lamp offerings, and worship of Vishnu and Shiva.

Also this month: Ekadashi (2), Pradosh Vrat (2), Masik Shivratri (1), Amavasya (1), Vinayaka Chaturthi (1), Masik Durga Ashtami (1), Purnima (1), Satyanarayan Puja (1), Sankashti Chaturthi (1).

Local horizon calculations

City-wise timings

CityLocal dateTithi window (local)vs. New Delhi
New Delhi7 Nov 202610:48 am – 11:28 amSame day
Varanasi7 Nov 202610:48 am – 11:28 amSame day
Mumbai7 Nov 202610:48 am – 11:28 amSame day
Bengaluru7 Nov 202610:48 am – 11:28 amSame day
Kolkata7 Nov 202610:48 am – 11:28 amSame day
Chennai7 Nov 202610:48 am – 11:28 amSame day
London7 Nov 20265:18 am – 5:58 amSame day
San Francisco7 Nov 20269:18 pm – 9:58 pmSame day

Tithi window shown in each city’s own local time — the underlying instant is the same worldwide.

Naraka Chaturdashi, widely celebrated as Choti Diwali, Roop Chaudas, or Kali Chaudas, falls on the fourteenth day (Chaturdashi) of the waning fortnight (Krishna Paksha) in the lunar month of Kartika. It precedes the grand Diwali night of Lakshmi Puja.

The festival marks the historic victory of Lord Krishna and his consort Satyabhama over the tyrannical demon king Narakasura, liberating sixteen thousand captive maidens and restoring justice. In western and southern traditions, it also honors the day Lord Krishna cleansed the stains of battle with fragrant herbal oils.

A central ritual on this day is the Abhyanga Snan—an auspicious pre-dawn oil bath taken during the Arunodaya period before sunrise, using sesame oil and herbal paste (ubtan) to wash away impurities and fatigue. Households illuminate fourteen clay diyas at dusk to ward off negativity and honor Yama, the guardian of righteousness.

Multi-year archive

Naraka Chaturdashi in other years