In short
- Naraka Chaturdashi 2026
- Sunday, 8 November 2026
- Tithi
- Kartik Krishna ChaturdashiAswayuja Krishna Chaturdashi (amanta)
- Observed for
- A clean start, health and the end of darkness
- Neeru tumbuva habba
- Sat, 7 Nov · Sunset 05:51 PM
- Deepavali Amavasye — Lakshmi puje
- Sun, 8 Nov · Pradosh 05:51 PM – 08:20 PM
What is it? The first day of Deepavali in Karnataka, kept with an oil bath before sunrise.
Why do families keep it? Narakasura fell to Krishna and Satyabhama before dawn on this Chaturdashi, and asked to be remembered with light.
What happens on the day? The vessel is filled the evening before; elders apply oil to everyone’s head at dawn; a hot bath, new clothes, aarati, sweets and the first crackers.
When to observe Naraka Chaturdashi in 2026
| Chaturdashi tithi begins | Sat, 7 Nov, 10:48 AM |
|---|---|
| Chaturdashi tithi ends | Sun, 8 Nov, 11:28 AM |
| Abhyanga snana (before sunrise) | 04:39 AM – 06:15 AMThe oil bath is taken in the dark before sunrise, while the tithi is running. |
| Sunrise | 06:15 AM |
| Sunset | 05:51 PM |
| Rahu Kaala — keep aside | 04:24 PM – 05:51 PM |
How the days unfold
- Sat, 7 Nov
Neeru tumbuva habba · Sunset 05:51 PM
The bathing vessel is scrubbed, decorated with rangoli and a garland, and filled with water for the morning.
- Sun, 8 Nov
Abhyanga snana · Before sunrise 04:39 AM – 06:15 AM
Oil on the head, a herbal paste, a hot bath before sunrise; then new clothes, aarati and sweets.
- Sun, 8 Nov
Deepavali Amavasye — Lakshmi puje · Pradosh 05:51 PM – 08:20 PM
Lakshmi puje at dusk and lamps through the house.
What Naraka Chaturdashi means
Washing off the dark
The oil bath is taken while it is still dark, as if washing Narakasura’s darkness off the body before the sun comes up. Tradition says a bath at this hour on this day is equal to a bath in the Ganga.
Neeru tumbuva habba
The evening before is its own small habba in Karnataka: the hande (copper vessel) is scrubbed, decorated with rangoli and flowers, and filled with water for the morning bath.
A mother’s permission
Narakasura was Bhudevi’s own son. It is told that Satyabhama — herself an avatar of Bhudevi — struck the final blow, so that a mother herself would end her son’s cruelty.
Satyabhama and Narakasura
Who is in it: Sri Krishna, Satyabhama, Narakasura, Bhudevi, Aditi, mother of the devas
Narakasura, son of Bhudevi, ruled from Pragjyotishapura. Made proud by his boons, he seized the earrings of Aditi, the mother of the devas, took Varuna’s umbrella and locked away sixteen thousand princesses.
Indra came to Dwaraka for help. Krishna set out on Garuda, and Satyabhama asked to go with him.
They broke through the fortress’s walls of fire, water and wind, and fought Narakasura’s generals. When Krishna was hit and fell back, Satyabhama took up the bow herself.
Narakasura fell in the hour before dawn. Bhudevi came and asked that her son be remembered, and Narakasura himself asked that the day be celebrated with light. Krishna agreed.
Krishna freed the princesses and returned Aditi’s earrings. In Karnataka, the oil bath before dawn remembers that early hour.
What it teaches: Even a mother will not shield wrongdoing. Darkness ends before the sun even rises.
Naraka Chaturdashi puja at home, step by step
Getting ready
- 1On Trayodashi evening, scrub the bathing vessel, decorate it with rangoli, flowers and a thread, and fill it with water.
- 2Light a lamp facing south at the door for Yama (Yama deepa).
- 3Keep sesame oil, a herbal paste or shikakai, and new clothes ready.
The puja
- 1Wake in the dark before sunrise.
- 2The eldest woman of the house applies a little oil to each person’s head, often after an aarati.
- 3Bathe with hot water from the vessel. Some families break a bitter kahi-hire (wild gourd) underfoot as a sign of crushing Narakasura.
- 4Wear new clothes, do a short puje to Krishna, and light lamps at the door.
Closing the puja
- 1Eat sweets — kajjaya, holige or chiroti — with the family.
- 2Burst a few crackers safely, if you do.
- 3Prepare for Lakshmi puje on Amavasya.
What to keep ready for Naraka Chaturdashi
Must have
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Sesame (gingelly) oil | A small bowl | Oil on the head before the bath |
| Shikakai, soapnut or a herbal paste | For the family | The bath |
| Copper or brass bath vessel | 1 | Filled the evening before |
| Rangoli, flowers and a thread | A little | Decorating the vessel |
| Lamps, oil and wicks | A few | Yama deepa and morning lamps |
| New clothes | One set each | Worn after the bath |
Good to have
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Kahi-hire (bitter wild gourd) | — | Broken underfoot after the bath in some families |
Family and regional customs
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Kajjaya, chiroti, chakkuli | — | Deepavali sweets and snacks |
Good practice, and what to avoid
Please do
- Bathe before sunrise.
- Let the elders oil everyone’s head.
- Light the Yama deepa the evening before.
Best avoided
- Sleep past sunrise on this day.
- Burst crackers near children or animals.
Chants for Naraka Chaturdashi
Deepa namaskara
शुभं करोति कल्याणम् आरोग्यं धनसम्पदा।
शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तु ते॥
ಕನ್ನಡ ಲಿಪಿಯಲ್ಲಿ
ಶುಭಂ ಕರೋತಿ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣಮ್ ಆರೋಗ್ಯಂ ಧನಸಮ್ಪದಾ।
ಶತ್ರುಬುದ್ಧಿವಿನಾಶಾಯ ದೀಪಜ್ಯೋತಿರ್ನಮೋಽಸ್ತು ತೇ॥
śubhaṃ karoti kalyāṇam ārogyaṃ dhanasampadā| śatrubuddhivināśāya dīpajyotirnamo’stu te||
What it means: The lamp brings good, health and wealth, and ends ill-will. Flame of the lamp, I bow to you.
Krishna namaskara
कृष्णाय वासुदेवाय हरये परमात्मने।
प्रणतक्लेशनाशाय गोविन्दाय नमो नमः॥
ಕನ್ನಡ ಲಿಪಿಯಲ್ಲಿ
ಕೃಷ್ಣಾಯ ವಾಸುದೇವಾಯ ಹರಯೇ ಪರಮಾತ್ಮನೇ।
ಪ್ರಣತಕ್ಲೇಶನಾಶಾಯ ಗೋವಿನ್ದಾಯ ನಮೋ ನಮಃ॥
kṛṣṇāya vāsudevāya haraye paramātmane| praṇatakleśanāśāya govindāya namo namaḥ||
What it means: To Krishna, son of Vasudeva, Hari, the highest Self, who ends the troubles of those who bow to him — to Govinda, again and again, I bow.
Naraka Chaturdashi from region to region
Karnataka
Neeru tumbuva habba the evening before, the oil bath in the dark, new clothes and a sweet breakfast.
Tamil Nadu and Kerala
This is the main Deepavali day — Ganga snanam before dawn and new clothes.
Goa and Maharashtra
Effigies of Narakasura are burnt before dawn in Goa; in Maharashtra, the abhyanga snan and a bitter karit fruit crushed underfoot.
North India
Choti Diwali or Roop Chaudas — a beauty bath and a lamp for Yama.
Have the Naraka Chaturdashi puja done for you
Two ways to do it. At a temple: the pandit takes your family’s name and gotra in the sankalpa and sends you the photos and video. At home: a pandit from our panel comes to you with the vidhi, and you sit for the puja yourself.
Where this comes from
- Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 10, chapter 59, for Krishna and Narakasura.
- Padma and Skanda Purana traditions for the dawn bath on Chaturdashi.
- Karnataka household customs as kept by the families of our pandits.
How we work out the dates: Stuti Mandir’s own panchanga engine places the Sun and Moon (Lahiri ayanamsa) and checks the tithi against sunrise, sunset and moonrise in Bengaluru, in IST. A printed panchanga may differ by a minute or so. Where your family’s panchanga or your purohita says otherwise, go with them.
Questions devotees ask us
When is Naraka Chaturdashi 2026?
Sunday, 8 November 2026. In Bengaluru, Aswayuja Krishna Chaturdashi (amanta; Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi in the North Indian count) begins Sat, 7 Nov, 10:48 AM and ends Sun, 8 Nov, 11:28 AM IST.
Will Mysuru and Delhi keep Naraka Chaturdashi on the same day?
Mostly yes. But the sun rises and sets at different times in different towns, and a habba is kept on the day its tithi is running at the right hour — so timings shift, and once in a while the date does too. Change the town above to see yours.
What time should we take the oil bath?
In the dark before sunrise, while Chaturdashi is running — the window is in the table above for your town.
Is Naraka Chaturdashi on the same day as Lakshmi puje?
Sometimes. Chaturdashi is taken at dawn and Amavasya at dusk, so they share a day in some years. This year’s dates are above.