2026 festival guide
Choti Diwali countdown 2026: Sunday, 8 November
Choti Diwali, or Naraka Chaturdashi, is Sunday, 8 November 2026 in the cited Indian calendar. It shares the civil date with Diwali this year. The morning observance and evening Lakshmi Puja belong to different parts of the day.
Dates and times checked: · See sources
2026 dates and timings
| Observance / city | Date and time |
|---|---|
| Naraka Chaturdashi | Sunday, 8 November 2026 |
| Chaturdashi tithi begins | 7 November · 10:47 AM IST |
| Chaturdashi tithi ends | 8 November · 11:27 AM IST |
| Abhyanga Snan | Before sunrise; check the window for your city |
| Lakshmi Puja | Evening of 8 November; separate puja timing |
This timer counts to the start of the date in India, not an Abhyanga Snan muhurat. The source explains that the bath window depends on local moonrise and sunrise. Date checked on 5 October 2026.
Why Choti Diwali and Diwali share a date
A lunar tithi does not begin and end at midnight. In 2026, Chaturdashi is present before sunrise on 8 November, while Amavasya is present that evening. The morning and evening observances can therefore share one civil date.
Do not simply subtract one day from Diwali to decide the Naraka Chaturdashi date. If your family uses ‘Choti Diwali’ informally for the previous evening, make clear whether you mean that gathering or the morning ritual.
Abhyanga Snan: check the morning window
Abhyanga Snan is the ritual oil bath associated with this observance. The cited calendar places the relevant window between moonrise and sunrise while Chaturdashi is present. The clock times depend on the city.
Choose your location on the source calendar before setting an alarm. A countdown to midnight is useful for counting days, but it cannot tell you when the local bath window starts.
Prepare the night before
An early start is easier when the ordinary household work is already organised. Keep your family's practice in mind when deciding what is needed.
- Confirm the local morning timing and write it beside the alarm.
- Set out clothes, towels and the items your household uses for the bath.
- Keep breakfast plans simple if the family also has evening guests.
- Prepare lamps and decorations separately from the morning arrangements.
- Leave time during the day to reset the puja space for Lakshmi Puja.
Choti Diwali, Roop Chaudas and Kali Chaudas
Naraka Chaturdashi is also called Roop Chaturdashi or Roop Chaudas. Kali Chaudas is a distinct observance even though names are sometimes used loosely. Its date need not follow the same rule.
When comparing calendars, compare the named ritual as well as the date. The same applies when inviting relatives: ‘morning bath on 8 November’ is clearer than assuming everyone uses the same festival name.
Frequently asked questions
Is Choti Diwali on 7 or 8 November 2026?
The Naraka Chaturdashi observance covered here is Sunday, 8 November. A family gathering on the previous evening may also be called Choti Diwali informally; distinguish that from the morning ritual.
Does midnight mark the bath muhurat?
No. The countdown marks the beginning of 8 November in India. Find your city's pre-sunrise Abhyanga Snan window separately.
Can I use the Lakshmi Puja time for Naraka Chaturdashi?
No. One is an evening puja and the other includes a pre-sunrise observance. They share a date in 2026 but have different timing rules.
Date and timing sources
These calendars support the dates and timings above. Household and temple arrangements can differ. Select your city and the year 2026 when checking a source.