⚡ Quick Summary
In India in 2026, the Naraka Chaturdashi oil bath (abhyang snan) falls on Sunday, November 8, the same day as Diwali. The night of Saturday, November 7 is Kali Chaudas, because the Chaturdashi tithi begins at about 10:47 AM IST on November 7 and ends at about 11:27 AM IST on November 8. In the US, UK and Canada, Naraka Chaturdashi is reported a day earlier. Research cutoff: October 31, 2026.
Many calendars simply say "Choti Diwali, November 7". In 2026 that shorthand is misleading. The festival has a morning ritual and a night ritual, they follow different rules, and this year they land on different dates.
This is a preview written a week ahead. Timings come from published panchangs and vary by city, so confirm them with your local temple or a city-specific calendar.
Short Answer: Two Observances, Two Dates
Choti Diwali is the popular name for Naraka Chaturdashi, the day before the main Diwali night. The Chaturdashi tithi (lunar day) runs from about 10:47 AM IST on Saturday, November 7 to about 11:27 AM IST on Sunday, November 8, according to the panchang tables cited by HinduTone and Daily Jagran.
That produces the following split:
| Observance | Date in India | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Kali Chaudas, Hanuman Puja, Masik Shivaratri | Saturday night, Nov 7 | Chaturdashi is in force at midnight |
| Naraka Chaturdashi oil bath (abhyang snan) | Sunday, Nov 8, before sunrise | Chaturdashi is still current at sunrise |
| Diwali Lakshmi Puja | Sunday evening, Nov 8 | Amavasya begins about 11:27 AM Nov 8 |
The Hyderabad panchang on HinduTone describes Sunday's oil bath as falling on November 8 "because Chaturdashi is still in effect at sunrise". Our earlier Diwali 2026 calendar listed Choti Diwali on November 7; it has been corrected to reflect this split.
What Is Naraka Chaturdashi?
Naraka Chaturdashi is the second day of the five-day Diwali festival, after Dhanteras on November 6. Wikipedia notes that it is also called Kali Chaudas, Roop Chaturdashi, Choti Diwali and Bhoot Chaturdashi, depending on the region.
According to tradition, the demon Narakasura was killed by Krishna, with Satyabhama's help, on the fourteenth day of the waning fortnight. The day is read as the victory of light over darkness and a day "to abolish laziness and evil", in the words of the Wikipedia summary.
The morning ritual
The defining custom is an early bath after an oil massage (abhyanga), often followed by an ubtan paste. Families then wear clean clothes, share a large breakfast and light oil lamps, including a lamp for Yama, the god of death. Applying kajal to ward off the evil eye is also described.
Daily Jagran quotes the following abhyang snan window for New Delhi on November 8: 5:41 AM to 6:38 AM. HinduTone's table gives other cities: Mumbai 5:45 to 6:42 AM, Bengaluru 5:17 to 6:15 AM, Chennai 5:06 to 6:05 AM, Kolkata 4:45 to 5:45 AM and Hyderabad 5:19 to 6:18 AM. The bath is meant to be taken before sunrise.
What Is Kali Chaudas?
Kali Chaudas is a night observance. HinduTone's Gujarat guide says it is tied to Chaturdashi being present at midnight, which is why it falls on Saturday night, November 7. It is also listed as Masik Shivaratri and Hanuman Puja on the same date.
In many Gujarati homes Mahakali is the main deity. Depending on the family, Hanuman, Bhairava and the kuldevi are also worshipped. Customs described include cleaning and decorating the home, lighting lamps, offering red flowers and sweets, visiting a Hanuman temple and reciting the Hanuman Chalisa. The same source says these practices vary by family, and gives no clock times for the night puja, so ask your priest for a local time.
Regional Variations
Wikipedia records several regional forms of the day:
- Goa: paper effigies of Narakasura are burned early in the morning, and a bitter berry is crushed underfoot.
- West Bengal and Bangladesh: the day is observed as Bhoot Chaturdashi, with fourteen lamps lit to guide ancestors' spirits.
- Tamil Nadu: Deepavali is celebrated on this day itself rather than on the new-moon day.
- Karnataka and Maharashtra: Deepavali celebrations begin on this day.
These traditions are why the date question matters. A family following the morning oil bath will plan for November 8, while a family observing Kali Chaudas will plan for the night of November 7.
Why Dates Differ Abroad
Panchang calculations depend on where you are. HinduTone's regional pages say that in the US, UK and Canada, Chaturdashi is already current at local sunrise on Saturday, November 7, so Naraka Chaturdashi is observed that day, while Lakshmi Puja remains Sunday, November 8. For Singapore and Malaysia the oil bath is on November 8, matching India.
Another source in our search, a Daily Jagran explainer, is internally inconsistent: its lead says November 8 while its body mentions November 7, though its Drik Panchang table matches the times above. We rely on the tithi times, not the headline.
Practical Checklist for November 7 and 8
- Saturday, November 7: Kali Chaudas night worship, Hanuman Chalisa, Masik Shivaratri observances if you follow them. Fasting is optional, and people with medical conditions should not feel obliged.
- Sunday, November 8 before sunrise: abhyang snan in your city's window, then lamps through the day.
- Sunday evening, November 8: Lakshmi Puja. Our Diwali guide gives the Delhi window as about 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM.
- Check locally: the temple or priest's timing is the final word for your community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Choti Diwali on November 7 or 8, 2026?
In India, the Naraka Chaturdashi morning observance is on November 8. Kali Chaudas, the night observance, is on the night of November 7. Outside India, some cities observe Naraka Chaturdashi on November 7.
What time is the abhyang snan in Delhi?
Daily Jagran, citing Drik Panchang, gives 5:41 AM to 6:38 AM on November 8 for New Delhi. Other cities differ.
Is Naraka Chaturdashi a public holiday?
We have not verified a nationwide holiday for it. State and local holidays vary, so check your employer's or school's list.
Is Kali Chaudas the same as Naraka Chaturdashi?
They share a tithi and a name in some regions, but Kali Chaudas is observed at night and Naraka Chaturdashi in the pre-dawn hours, which is why they can fall on different dates.
Conclusion
For 2026, plan the oil bath for the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, November 8, and Kali Chaudas worship for the night of Saturday, November 7. For the full five-day plan, read our Diwali 2026 guide, and see the November 7 date preview for everything else on the day.
