Naraka Chaturdashi illustration

Annual festival

Kartika Krishna Paksha

Naraka Chaturdashi 2027नरक 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)

Thursday, 28 October 2027

Samvat

Vikram 2084 · Shaka 1949

Tradition harmony

All regional traditions Chakra tracks agree on this date:

North (Purnimanta)
28 Oct 2027
South (Amanta)
28 Oct 2027
Tamil
28 Oct 2027
Bengali
28 Oct 2027
ISKCON
28 Oct 2027
Smarta
28 Oct 2027

Tithi window

Begins 27 Oct, 10:50 pm

Ends 28 Oct, 8:49 pm

Abhijit Muhurta

11:42 am – 12:27 pm

Universal auspicious midday span

Masa note

Nija (Shuddha) Kartika

No intercalary month interference this year.

October 2027

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  • 8 FriDurga Ashtami →Durga Ashtami is the eighth day of Sharad Navratri, held to be the most powerful for worship of the goddess.
  • 8 FriMaha Navami →Maha Navami marks the climactic ninth day of Navratri, venerating Goddess Durga as Mahishasuramardini and celebrating Ayudha Puja.
  • 9 SatDussehra →Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, marks the victory of Rama over Ravana and of Durga over Mahishasura.
  • 15 FriSharad Purnima →Sharad Purnima marks the harvest full moon of autumn when the moon radiates nectar-like rays and Lord Krishna danced the divine Raas Leela.
  • 18 MonKarva Chauth →Karva Chauth is a day-long fast kept without food or water for the well-being of a husband, broken after sighting the moon.
  • 18 MonTula Sankranti →Tula Sankranti is the moment the Sun enters the sidereal sign of Libra, marking the start of the harvest month in several regions.
  • 22 FriAhoi Ashtami →Ahoi Ashtami is a traditional fasting day observed by mothers for the long life and wellbeing of their children on Kartika Krishna Ashtami.
  • 27 WedDhanteras →Dhanteras opens the Diwali period and is considered auspicious for buying metal, and for honouring Dhanvantari and Lakshmi.
  • 28 ThuNaraka Chaturdashi(this page)Naraka Chaturdashi commemorates the triumph of Lord Krishna and Satyabhama over the tyrant demon Narakasura on Kartika Krishna Chaturdashi.
  • 29 FriDiwali →Diwali is the festival of lights marking the victory of light over darkness and the return of Rama to Ayodhya.
  • 30 SatGovardhan Puja →Govardhan Puja recalls Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan to shelter the people of Braj, and is kept the day after Diwali.
  • 31 SunBhai Dooj →Bhai Dooj is the day at the close of Diwali on which sisters apply a tilak to their brothers and pray for their long life.

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

Local horizon calculations

City-wise timings

CityLocal dateTithi window (local)vs. New Delhi
New Delhi28 Oct 202710:50 pm – 28 Oct, 8:49 pmSame day
Varanasi28 Oct 202710:50 pm – 28 Oct, 8:49 pmSame day
Mumbai28 Oct 202710:50 pm – 28 Oct, 8:49 pmSame day
Bengaluru28 Oct 202710:50 pm – 28 Oct, 8:49 pmSame day
Kolkata28 Oct 202710:50 pm – 28 Oct, 8:49 pmSame day
Chennai28 Oct 202710:50 pm – 28 Oct, 8:49 pmSame day
London27 Oct 20276:20 pm – 28 Oct, 4:19 pmDiffers
San Francisco27 Oct 202710:20 am – 28 Oct, 8:19 amDiffers

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.

Read and recite

The katha and prayers for Naraka Chaturdashi

Multi-year archive

Naraka Chaturdashi in other years