Naraka Chaturdashi: a dawn bath, evening lamps
Naraka Chaturdashi, also called Chhoti Diwali, Roop Chaudas or Kali Chaudas, is the Krishna Chaturdashi of Kartika (amanta Ashvina). Per Dharmasindhu, an oil-and-paste bath (abhyanga snana) is taken at dawn, on the day the Chaturdashi is present at moonrise, which comes a little before sunrise. In the evening, lamps are lit at home, at temples and along lanes.
An oil-and-paste bath at dawn and lamps in the evening; the morning before (or of) Diwali.
What Naraka Chaturdashi is
It is the second of Diwali's five days: Dhanteras, then Naraka Chaturdashi, then the Amavasya Lakshmi puja, then Govardhan puja and Bhai Dooj. Its mark is the dawn abhyanga snana: a sesame-oil massage, a herbal paste (ubtan), then a bath. In the evening, lamps outside and around the home.
Names change by region. North India calls it Chhoti Diwali; Rajasthan and Gujarat say Roop Chaudas or Kali Chaudas. In Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu this morning is the big Deepavali bath; in Tamil Nadu Deepavali is mainly celebrated on this dawn. Bengal calls it Bhoot Chaturdashi, with a custom of fourteen lamps. Some places also keep Hanuman Jayanti on this day. Customs differ; the feeling is one: welcoming light after darkness.
How the day is decided
Shastra (Dharmasindhu): the oil bath is taken on the Krishna Chaturdashi of Ashvina (purnimanta Kartika) that is present at moonrise. Near the end of the dark fortnight the moon rises shortly before sunrise, so this is a dawn rule.
Dharmasindhu names three parts of the early morning: from the last watch of the night to arunodaya, from arunodaya to moonrise, and from moonrise to sunrise. Each later part is held better, so the time after moonrise is the main one.
| Chaturdashi at moonrise | Day |
|---|---|
| First day only | First |
| Second day only | Second |
| Both days | First |
| Neither | Dharmasindhu's sub-rules |
For the finer cases where the Chaturdashi is at neither moonrise, the text gives separate sub-rules, and our calendar uses them. It also says that if the bath can't be taken at the stated time, it may be taken after sunrise, in the secondary time.
Sometimes Naraka Chaturdashi and Diwali fall on the same date: if the Chaturdashi is present at dawn and the Amavasya begins during the day, the morning bath and the evening Lakshmi puja share one date.
The story: tradition / Purana story
Tradition links the day to Krishna's victory over Narakasura. The story says Narakasura held many people captive; Krishna (with Satyabhama, in many tellings) defeated him and freed them, and people lit lamps in joy. In Goa, paper effigies of Narakasura are burnt before dawn, and in Maharashtra a small bitter fruit is crushed underfoot after the bath, in memory of that victory.
The name ‘Roop Chaudas’ carries a folk belief that the paste and bath refresh body and mind. The word ‘naraka’ is in the name, but this is not a day of fear: it is about good over evil and a clean fresh start. We keep these stories as tradition; we did not find them in the texts in our library.
How families celebrate
At dawn elders rub sesame oil on the children, apply a gram-flour and turmeric paste or a home ubtan, then a warm bath. New or clean clothes, a tilak, a bow to the household deity, and in many homes a plate of sweets and snacks.
Shastra (Dharmasindhu): the text gives an old custom of turning a twig of apamarga (and similar plants) over the head three times during the bath, and after the bath an offering of sesame water in Yama's name. Many families don't do these today; follow your family custom.
Shastra (Dharmasindhu): at pradosha in the evening it asks for lovely lamps at temples, monasteries, gardens, lanes and animal sheds, and the same lamps on all three days (Chaturdashi, Amavasya, Pratipada). In many north Indian homes one lamp is set outside facing south as ‘Yama's lamp’; that is tradition.
A simple rite
- The night before, keep ubtan and sesame oil ready; warm water for the morning.
- At dawn (before sunrise if you can), oil massage and paste, then the bath.
- Clean clothes, a tilak, a bow to the household deity and to elders.
- In the evening, lamps at the door, the courtyard, the tulsi and the shrine.
- If you wish, remember Krishna or Hanuman; a meal with family.
No paid puja is needed.
Health and safety
A cold morning: use warm water. Older people, anyone unwell and small children can bathe a little later as is comfortable; the text too accepts a secondary time after sunrise. After oiling, the bathroom floor gets slippery, so hold elders' hands. If someone's skin reacts to ubtan, try a little first.
Lamps and crackers: keep lamps away from curtains, clothes and dry leaves, keep an adult near children, and keep a bucket of water or sand nearby. If you burst crackers, wear cotton, choose an open place, and mind elders, people with asthma, and pets and street animals. For a burn, run cool water over it and see a doctor.
There is usually no fast on this day. If someone keeps one, people who are unwell, pregnant, diabetic or on medicine can take a lighter form or ask a doctor.
In ePandit
In ePandit: our calendar shows the festival day with your city's sunrise and sunset. The day is decided once, for Ujjain; your city's times are shown separately. We don't compute muhurta yet, and we never call a festival good or bad for anyone.
On a cold morning use warm water; older people and small children can bathe when comfortable. Keep lamps away from curtains and clothes, keep an adult near children, and keep a bucket of water or sand nearby.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called Chhoti Diwali?
It is the first of Diwali's three main nights (Chaturdashi, Amavasya, Pratipada); Dharmasindhu gives lamps on all three.
Why does it sometimes fall on Diwali day?
The bath is at dawn and Lakshmi puja in the evening. If the Chaturdashi is present at dawn and the Amavasya begins during the day, both fall on one day.
What if I can't bathe before sunrise?
Dharmasindhu says that if the stated time isn't possible, the bath may be taken after sunrise, in the secondary time. Health first.
The name has ‘naraka’ (hell). Is it a day to fear?
No. Tradition links it to Krishna's victory over Narakasura and to welcoming light. It is a day of cleaning, bathing and lamps.
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Sources: Dharmasindhu, Āśvina-kṛṣṇa caturdaśī: abhyaṅga-snāna, Ashvina Krishna Chaturdashi, present at moonrise · Dharmasindhu, the day of the oil bath, First day only → first; second only → second · Dharmasindhu, the day of the oil bath, At both moonrises → the first · Dharmasindhu, the secondary time, If not at the stated time, after sunrise · Dharmasindhu, apamarga during the bath, Turning an apamarga twig three times · Dharmasindhu, Yama-tarpana, An offering in Yama's name after the bath · Dharmasindhu, lamps at pradosha, Lamps at temples, gardens, lanes; on all three days · Tradition, The Narakasura story; Chhoti Diwali, Roop Chaudas, Kali Chaudas, Bhoot Chaturdashi; Yama's lamp; Goa's effigies