Narak Chaturdashi 2026
Narak Chaturdashi 2026 falls on Sunday, Sunday, November 8, 2026. Observed on: ashwina krishna 14.
Exact date, puja muhurat & city-wise timings for Narak Chaturdashi 2026
Key Information
Festival Date
Sunday, November 8, 2026
2026 Calendar Context
Weekday
Sunday
Vikram Samvat
2083
Shaka Samvat
1948
This year Narak Chaturdashi falls on a Sunday, 19 days later than 2025 (2025-10-20) — typical lunar-calendar drift.
Falling on a Sunday gives the day a Surya emphasis — Sun-ruled rites and copper offerings carry extra weight.
The 2025 observance fell on Monday, 2025-10-20 — this year arrives 19 days later in the Gregorian calendar, the Adhika-masa pattern when an intercalary lunar month pushes the cycle forward.
Looking ahead to 2027, Narak Chaturdashi will fall on Thursday, 2027-10-28 (11 days earlier than this year). So planning ritual schedules across years means anchoring to the tithi rather than the Gregorian date.
Astronomical context for Narak Chaturdashi 2026
On Sunday, November 8, 2026, sunrise in Delhi (the reference city for this page) falls at 06:38 IST and sunset at 17:31 IST — a daylight span of 10h 53m. Across the six pan-Indian cities tabulated below, sunrise on this date varies from 05:44 (Kolkata) at the eastern edge to 06:42 (Mumbai) in the west — a 58-minute difference that drives the city-by-city muhurat shift you see in the table.
For Narak Chaturdashi 2026, the central rite of arunodaya (pre-dawn) depends on the Ashwina Krishna 14 being present during that window on 2026-11-08 — confirmed across 6 reference cities in this year's computation pass. Cities further east (Kolkata, Chennai) see the window open ~15-25 minutes before Delhi; cities west of Delhi (Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore) see it start later by a similar margin.
City-Wise Timings for Narak Chaturdashi 2026
| City | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 6:38 AM | 5:31 PM |
| Mumbai | 6:42 AM | 6:02 PM |
| Bangalore | 6:15 AM | 5:51 PM |
| Chennai | 6:04 AM | 5:40 PM |
| Kolkata | 5:44 AM | 4:55 PM |
| Pune | 6:37 AM | 5:58 PM |
Click any city for detailed local timings, puja vidhi & samagri list
How will Narak Chaturdashi 2026 affect your sign?
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Narak Chaturdashi — Do's & Don'ts
Sourced from Dharmasindhu, Nirnayasindhu, and contemporary tradition.
Do
- Take an oil bath before sunrise (Arunodaya) — the Abhyanga Snana tradition.
- Apply uthane (medicated oil) or sesame oil before bathing.
- Light a single lamp at sunset facing south — to ward off Yamaraja.
- Wear new clothes and perform a small Lakshmi puja in preparation for Diwali tomorrow.
Don't
- Do not skip the pre-dawn bath — it is the entire purpose of this day in classical tradition.
- Do not bathe with cold water — warm water with oil is the prescribed form.
- Avoid eating heavy or non-vegetarian food before the puja.
- Do not gamble today either — same Alakshmi caveat as Diwali.
Narak Chaturdashi 2026 Wishes & Greetings
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Before the lamps come out tomorrow, the pre-dawn bath today clears whatever the year accumulated. Shubh Narak Chaturdashi.
Choti Diwali — the warm-up. Light a single lamp, eat one sweet, sleep early. Tomorrow is the bigger night.
The work of celebration starts before celebration does. Wishing you a quiet, clean Narak Chaturdashi.
Abhyanga before dawn — warm oil, warm water, no rush. The simplest year-end ritual we have. Shubh Choti Diwali.
The day Krishna defeated Narakasura — and the day your grandmother insists you bathe before sunrise. Both are right. Wishing you the bath.
5-Day Diwali Sequence — Festival Cluster
The five days of Diwali begin with Dhanteras and end with Bhai Dooj — each day with its own deity, ritual, and astrological focus.
Narak Chaturdashi Across the Years — 2020-2030
Past and future dates — one place.
Why This Date?
Nishita Kaal (Midnight) Rule: Observed when the Chaturdashi tithi prevails at midnight – the night before Diwali. The pre-dawn Abhyang Snan (oil bath) purifies for the new year. Also called Chhoti Diwali.
Tithi Determination Rule
The tithi must prevail at Arunodaya (96 minutes before sunrise). Used for Narak Chaturdashi and Ekadashi observance.
Source: Dharmasindhu & Nirnayasindhu – classical Kala-Vyapti system
Deity
Lord Krishna, Goddess Kali
Legend & History
Narak Chaturdashi celebrates Lord Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura (Bhaumasura), who had imprisoned 16,100 princesses and terrorized the three worlds. Krishna, along with his wife Satyabham… Read full legend →Show less ↑
Narak Chaturdashi celebrates Lord Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura (Bhaumasura), who had imprisoned 16,100 princesses and terrorized the three worlds. Krishna, along with his wife Satyabhama, slew the demon in a fierce battle and freed all the captives. It is said that Krishna returned home before dawn, and the women bathed him with fragrant oils to wash off the blood of battle – the origin of the pre-dawn oil bath tradition. In some regions, this day is also observed as Kali Chaudas, honouring Goddess Kali's fierce form.
How to Observe
Rise before dawn and take an oil bath (Abhyanga Snan) with sesame oil and ubtan – this is one of the few days when bathing before sunrise is prescribed. Light fourteen diyas (representing the fourteen realms) in the evening. Burst firecrackers to celebrate Krishna's victory. Worship Lord Krishna and, in some traditions, Goddess Kali or Hanuman. Prepare special sweets.
Significance
Narak Chaturdashi symbolizes the destruction of evil and the liberation of the oppressed. The pre-dawn bath washes away sins, and the lighting of fourteen diyas represents illuminating all fourteen Lokas. It is the second day of the five-day Diwali festival and is considered a day of purification before the main Diwali night.
Looking for Narak Chaturdashi 2027?
Narak Chaturdashi 2027 Date & Muhurat