Choti Diwali 2026: Date, Abhyang Snan Time, Puja Vidhi and Story of Narak Chaturdashi

Before the sun is up, someone in the house is already awake. Mustard oil is warming on the stove, a bowl of ubtan is waiting by the bathroom door, and the whole place smells a little like Diwali. That quiet, early start is Choti Diwali.

Choti Diwali 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November, and yes, it shares its date with the main Diwali. Morning is for the oil bath. Evening is for lamps. In between sits the old Narakasura story most of us grew up hearing.

Below you'll find the date, the New Delhi snan time, why the day matters, the puja steps and a samagri list. Timings shift a little from city to city, so glance at your local panchang too.

Choti Diwali 2026 at a Glance: Date, Tithi and Snan Time

Short on time? This is the quick version: the date, the tithi, the New Delhi bath timing, who gets worshipped and what comes next. Everything is in IST. Your city may differ by a few minutes, so check your local panchang before setting the alarm.

What Is Choti Diwali? Meaning, Names and Where It Fits

Choti Diwali is the little festival that comes right before the big Diwali night. You'll also hear it called Naraka Chaturdashi or Roop Chaudas. Mornings matter most: an early oil bath, clean clothes, and a few diyas once it gets dark.

"Choti" simply means small. Naraka comes from the demon Narakasura, and Chaturdashi is the fourteenth tithi of the dark fortnight. That falls in Kartik if your calendar is Purnimanta, and in Ashwin if it's Amanta.

It's day two of the five-day Diwali stretch. Missed day one? Our Dhanteras 2026 guide covers it. Some families also start a day earlier with Govatsa Dwadashi.

Normally Choti Diwali lands a day before Diwali. In 2026 the two share one date. Chaturdashi lasts until 11:28 AM on 8 November, and Amavasya begins that same evening. For a short background read, Wikipedia has one.

Diwali 2026 Calendar: All 5 Days in Order

Diwali runs for five days, and Choti Diwali is day two. The table below lists each day with its date and a one-line meaning, which helps when you're juggling cleaning, shopping, puja and relatives' visits. Dates are for India.

Some calendars show Govardhan Puja on 9 November and Bhai Dooj on 10 November. We've gone with the India dates.

Why Is Choti Diwali Celebrated? 4 Stories Behind the Day

Ask three families and you might hear three stories. Regions remember different things, and every house has its own version. These four come up the most, and tradition says they all end the same way: light wins over darkness.

Krishna Defeats Narakasura

Tradition says Narakasura was a mighty king who tormented the devas and kept many women captive. Krishna, with Satyabhama by his side, defeated him and set them free. People lit lamps and bathed to celebrate. That bath is what we repeat today.

Kali Chaudas: The Night Before

Some regions worship Goddess Kali around this tithi. The night before Choti Diwali is often called Kali Chaudas, and in 2026 that's the night of 7 November. If your family keeps it, you already know how, so go by your own custom.

Yama Deepam: A Small Lamp for Protection

Many homes put out a small lamp for Yama so that no untimely sorrow walks into the house. Some families do it on Dhanteras, others on Choti Diwali. Just do what your elders do. They've been doing it far longer than any of us.

Roop Chaudas: The Beauty and Self-Care Ritual

The day also goes by Roop Chaudas. Think ubtan on the face, a long warm bath, clean clothes and a bit of time for yourself before Diwali night gets loud. Nothing complicated about it, and that's rather nice.

Choti Diwali 2026 Muhurat: Abhyang Snan Time and Tithi

The bath is the one thing with a clock on it. It happens before sunrise, while Chaturdashi is still running. The table has the tithi and the New Delhi timings, and the note under it explains why a few calendars say 7 November.

Which date? A few calendars show Choti Diwali on 7 November, since Chaturdashi starts that morning and Kali Chaudas is kept that night. Indian calendars go by the tithi at sunrise, which puts the snan on 8 November. That's the date used here.

Running Late for the Snan? Read This

It happens, especially when there are guests. Chaturdashi lasts until 11:28 AM, and plenty of families still do the ubtan bath after sunrise. Ask your pandit ji if you want to be sure, or go by your family's habit. Don't stress over it.

Who Is Worshipped on Choti Diwali? Deities and Aartis

Krishna is the main deity of the day, though a few others get a mention depending on where you live. The table shows who, when, what each one stands for and the aarti to sing. You'll find more on our deities page.

Choti Diwali Puja Vidhi at Home: 11 Easy Steps

Every house does this a little differently, so use these steps as a rough guide and follow your own family's way. In short: get up early, oil and ubtan, bath, a quick prayer to Krishna, and diyas once the sun has set.

1. Get up early. Keep the oil, ubtan, towel and clean clothes ready the night before, so you aren't hunting for them in the dark.

2. Warm the oil. Sesame or mustard. Touch a drop to your wrist first. It should be warm, never hot.

3. Massage the oil in gently, from head to toe.

4. Apply ubtan. Besan, haldi and a splash of milk or water, mixed into a paste.

5. Bathe before sunrise with warm water.

6. Dress in fresh clothes. New if you have them, clean if you don't.

7. Light a diya in the puja corner, bow to Krishna, and offer a flower and something sweet.

8. Sing or chant. Even a short aarti is enough.

9. In the evening, sweep the entrance, make a rangoli and put out the diyas.

10. After sunset, light the lamps. That includes one for Yama if your family does it.

11. Pass the sweets around. Family first, then the neighbours.

Puja Samagri Checklist: What to Keep Ready

Get everything together the night before and the morning stays calm. Most of this is already sitting in your kitchen or puja corner. This is what you need for the oil bath, the Krishna puja and the evening lamps.

• Sesame or mustard oil, slightly warmed

• Besan and haldi for ubtan

• A clean towel and fresh clothes

• Clay diyas, ghee or oil, cotton wicks

• A picture or idol of Lord Krishna

• Fresh flowers, roli and rice

• Sweets for prasad (poha-based ones in some homes)

• Matchbox and a steel tray for the lit diyas

How to Prepare Your Home: A Day-by-Day Plan

A bit of planning saves the morning. The table walks you from the deep clean a few days ahead to lighting the lamps after sunset on 8 November, right before Lakshmi Puja. Tick things off as you go and you'll be fine.

Choti Diwali Rangoli Ideas: Simple Designs for Your Doorstep

Rangoli is the first thing guests notice at your door. On Choti Diwali it's usually made in the late afternoon, before the diyas come out. You don't need any artistic skill. A few simple patterns, some flowers and a little patience are plenty.

• Flower rangoli: marigold and rose petals laid out in a circle, with a diya in the middle. Bright, fresh and easy on the environment.

• Rice-flour designs: dots joined by simple lines, much like the kolam you see in South Indian homes.

• Diya ring: a plain outline with a ring of small diyas sitting inside it.

• Lotus pattern: a simple lotus is a popular Diwali design, and it's easier than it looks.

• Natural colours: haldi for yellow, kumkum for red, a pinch of rice flour for white.

Clean and dry the spot first, or the colours won't hold. Finish the rangoli before sunset, and keep diyas away from loose dupattas and curtains. Wipe off stray colour powder afterwards, since it gets slippery. Kids usually love helping with this one.

Traditions, Safety and Eco-Friendly Tips

Choti Diwali looks different in different states, but safety and eco habits matter everywhere. Skim the regional notes, keep the lamps where they can't tip over, and use the do's and don'ts table below as a last-minute check.

• Maharashtra: families get up before dawn for the oil bath, then settle in with faral, the Diwali snacks.

• Goa: tall Narakasura effigies are often burned in the early hours.

• South India: this is often the main Diwali morning, with an oil bath at dawn.

• Gujarat and Rajasthan: you'll hear Kali Chaudas and Roop Chaudas more than Choti Diwali.

• Safety: keep diyas away from curtains, dupattas and kids. Never leave a lit lamp alone.

• Eco tip: clay diyas, flower rangoli and natural colours are easy swaps.

• Noise: go light on crackers. Elders, babies and pets will thank you.

Choti Diwali Do's and Don'ts at a Glance

Small habits make the morning safer and calmer. Check the oil temperature, put lamps on flat surfaces, and go with your family's customs. The table puts the do's and don'ts side by side so you can scan it in a few seconds.

Start Choti Diwali 2026 With a Warm Bath and a Small Lamp

Choti Diwali is the quiet start to Diwali night. A warm oil bath, a few fresh flowers and a diya at the door are all it takes. Nothing grand is needed, and an unhurried morning like that is what makes the day feel special.

When the morning of 8 November comes, give yourself and the family a few quiet minutes. If it feels right, end the day with a few rounds of Naam Jaap.

Thinking of visiting a mandir this week? You can browse temple darshan on the app, or read our festival guides and the complete Diwali 2026 guide.

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Happy Choti Diwali from all of us at Mobile Mandir.