Narak Chaturdashi is also called Choti Diwali as it is celebrated the day prior to Diwali. This festival celebrates the victory of Lord Krishna over a cruel demon named Narakasura. Narak Chaturdashi is also known as Kali Chaudas as it is also believed that Goddess Kali killed demon Narakasura.

When is Narak Chaturdashi actually celebrated?

As per the Gregorian Calendar, Narak Chaturdashi 2020 falls on 14th of the November month. Narak Chaturdashi is regarded as one of the most favourable festivals celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik.

Narak Chaturdashi Significance

A cruel demon threatened and destroyed the whole universe with his cruelty. Once the situation became very worse when he kidnapped the sixteen thousand wives of all deities and kept them as prisoners. As all the wives of deities were suffering from the tortures of wicked Narakasura, all the deities and saints approached Lord Krishna to save their wives and protect the entire universe from the clutches of Narakasura.

Lord Krishna knew that Narakasura was cursed and that he would die from the hands of a woman. Lord Krishna took the assistance of his wife and killed Narakasura on the fourteenth day of Krishna Paksha during the waning moon in the month of Krishna Paksha and freed all the wives of deities. It is believed that Lord Krishna took an oil bath after killing Narakasura during the Brahma Muhurta to wipe off all the negativity of Narakasura.

What to do on Narak Chaturdashi

People should do abhyanga snan by applying oil on the body before sunrise to gain significant blessings. People clean their house and decorate it with rangoli, flowers, and earthen lamps to welcome joy and prosperity in their house. People wear new clothes and prepare traditional foods, sweets on this auspicious occasion of Narak Chaturdashi.

People worship Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha on this holy day by placing their idols in wooden chowki. A tilak is applied with rice on the idols of gods and holy mantras are chanted. People light up their houses with diyas as it signifies enlightenment.

Benefits of Narak Chaturdashi

This significant occasion of Narak Chaturdashi marks the triumph of Lord Krishna over the cruel demon. People following these rituals with complete faith will see the following benefits

• Narak Chaturdashi removes all negative energies from one’s life.
• It vanishes the unwillingness towards doing any kind of work.
• It bestows people strong and positive guts to lead a prosperous life.
• Narak Chaturdashi bestows people with an abundance of happiness and prosperity.