Festivals · 2026
Naraka Chaturdashi 2026: Saturday, 7 November 2026
Naraka Chaturdashi in 2026 falls on Saturday, 7 November 2026. Computed for Delhi (IST) from the drik-ganit panchang, by the rule: classical festival table — tithi prevailing at local noon. Abhijit Muhurat runs 11:43 AM – 12:26 PM IST.
The date
Saturday, 7 November 2026
Abhijit Muhurat (shubh for all works) 11:43 AM – 12:26 PM IST
Rule: Classical festival table — tithi prevailing at local noon
Reference city: Delhi (IST)
Shubh muhurat windows
The abhyanga bath is taken before sunrise; evening lamps follow. The Abhijit Muhurat above is the day's shubh anchor for anything else begun today.
| Window | Time (IST) | City |
|---|---|---|
| Abhijit Muhurat (shubh for all works) | 11:43 AM – 12:26 PM | Delhi |
The Abhijit Muhurat is the midday window most digests treat as universally auspicious — Wednesdays excepted (what it is and why). Windows are computed for Delhi; your city's exact span shifts with local sunrise — check the city panchang or the Bela app.
What does Naraka Chaturdashi celebrate?
Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali), the fourteenth tithi of Kartik's dark half, celebrates Krishna and Satyabhama's slaying of the demon Narakasura. The day is kept with the pre-dawn abhyanga bath with oil and ubtan, said to spare one the fate of Naraka.
The story and significance of Naraka Chaturdashi
The freeing of sixteen thousand captives from Narakasura's prison makes this the festival of release. The oil bath before sunrise — 'as if bathed in the Ganga' — is its non-negotiable rite.
In the South this Chaturdashi is the main Deepavali day itself; in the North it is Choti Diwali, the eve of the great night. The engine table keys 'Diwali' to this Chaturdashi row — Bela's Diwali page uses the sunset Amavasya rule for the Lakshmi Puja day.
Naraka Chaturdashi dates by year
| Year | Date | Day | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 November 2026 | Saturday | This page |
| 2027 | 27 October 2027 | Wednesday | Naraka Chaturdashi 2027 → |
Frequently asked questions
When is Naraka Chaturdashi in 2026?
Naraka Chaturdashi in 2026 falls on Saturday, 7 November 2026. The date is computed for Delhi from the rule: classical festival table — tithi prevailing at local noon.
What does Naraka Chaturdashi celebrate?
Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali), the fourteenth tithi of Kartik's dark half, celebrates Krishna and Satyabhama's slaying of the demon Narakasura. The day is kept with the pre-dawn abhyanga bath with oil and ubtan, said to spare one the fate of Naraka.
What is the shubh muhurat on Naraka Chaturdashi 2026?
The computed windows for 7 November 2026 (Delhi): Abhijit Muhurat — 11:43 AM to 12:26 PM IST. The abhyanga bath is taken before sunrise; evening lamps follow. The Abhijit Muhurat above is the day's shubh anchor for anything else begun today.
Does the Naraka Chaturdashi date change from city to city?
Yes, it can. Naraka Chaturdashi is fixed by a tithi prevailing at a specific moment — sunrise, noon, sunset or midnight — and that moment is local. Moving west or east across longitudes can push the prevailing tithi across a civil-date boundary, so Mumbai, Kolkata or New York can observe a day apart from Delhi. Smarta and Vaishnava traditions also differ on some fasting days. The date above follows the popular North-Indian convention for Delhi; the Bela app recomputes for your exact location.
When is Naraka Chaturdashi in 2027?
Naraka Chaturdashi in 2027 falls on Wednesday, 27 October 2027. Full windows and notes are on the Naraka Chaturdashi 2027 page, linked below.
Related
Every festival, computed the same honest way.
Exact dates, muhurat windows and the classical rule behind each one — for your own city, not just Delhi.
