Narak Chaturdashi 2024: Date, Timings & Significance

The festival of Narak Chaturdashi 2024 is celebrated a day before Diwali; this festival is celebrated every year on the Chaturdashi date of Krishna Paksha of Kartik month. This day is also known as Chhoti Diwali, Kali Chaudas, and Roop Chaudas.

On this day, the god of death, Yamraj is also worshipped, and a lamp in the name of Yam is also lit in the south direction. On this day, Krishna Puja and Kali Puja are also done along with Yam Puja.

This year Narak Chaturdashi or Chhoti Diwali is celebrated on Thursday, 31 October 2024. It is believed that on the day of Narak Chaturdashi, Lord Krishna freed about 16 thousand women by killing the demon named Narakasura.

Therefore, this day is celebrated by lighting lamps. Along with this, people light lamps for Lord Yama and pray for the well-being of the family. Let’s know why the festival of Narak Chaturdashi is celebrated and what is its mythological story.

Shubh Muhurat of Narak Chaturdashi Puja

• Narak Chaturdashi 2024 will be celebrated on October 31.
• The auspicious time of taking Abhyanga Snan starts from 05:18 AM to 06:32 AM.
• The duration of Abhyanga Snan is 1 hour and 13 minutes.
• The Kartik Chaturdashi Tithi will start on October 30 at 01:15 PM.
• The Kartik Chaturdashi Tithi will end on October 31 at 03:50 PM.

What is Narak Chaturdashi?

Narak Chaturdashi celebrated just a day before the festival of Diwali, is also called Chhoti Diwali, Roop Chaudas, and Kali Chaturdashi. It is believed that a person who worships Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi according to the rituals gets freedom from all sins.

On this day, in the evening, there is a tradition of donating lamps which is done for Yamraj. It is a very important festival from the point of view of its importance. It is called Choti Diwali because the darkness of the night is driven away from the light beam by the light of a lamp at night a day before Diwali, just like on the night of Diwali.

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Importance of Narak Chaturdashi 2024

On this auspicious day, people worship Goddess Kali to remove the influence of negative powers or evil spirits from their lives. By worshipping Maa Kali on Narak Chaturdashi, you can get rid of ghosts, evil spirits, and negative powers from your house. By performing puja at home, you can remove the presence of negative forces in your life.

Many Hindus take Abhyanga baths on this day to purify themselves from their sins. It is said that those who take Abhyanga baths on this day are saved from going to hell. Naraka Chaturdashi honours the victory of Satyabhama over Lord Krishna and the demon Narakasura.

Significance of Narak Chaturdashi 2024

People worship Goddess Kali on this auspicious day to remove negative forces or the impact of evil souls from their lives. Worshipping Maa Kali on Narak Chaturdashi can help you get rid of ghosts, evil spirits, and negative forces from your home.

By conducting Puja at home, you can remove the existence of negative energy and evil forces in your life. Many Hindus perform Abhyanga Snan on this day to purify themselves of their sins.

People who do not perform Abhyanga Snan on this day are said to go to Narak (hell). Narak Chaturdashi honours Lord Krishna and Satyabhama’s victory over the demon Narakasura.

Mythologies related to Narak Chaturdashi

There are several mythological stories related to Narak Chaturdashi; the main 4 stories are listed below:

1st Story

According to mythology, Lord Krishna lived in Dwarka with his wives. One day Devraj Indra came to Lord Krishna and said that O Krishna, the gods are crying for help due to the atrocities of demon king Bhoumasur. Bhoumasur is also called Narakasura.

The cruel Bhoumasur has snatched Varun’s umbrella, Aditi’s earrings, and the gem from the gods, and he has become the king of the three worlds. Bhaumaasura has also kidnapped the daughters of many kings and common people of the Earth and has imprisoned them; please save these three worlds from that cruel demon.

After listening to Devraj Indra, Lord Krishna, along with his wife Satyabhama, rode on Garuda and reached Pragjyotashpur, where the cruel Bhoumasur lived. Lord Krishna first killed a demon named Mur along with his 6 sons with the help of his wife. On hearing the news of the killing of the demon Mur, Bhoumasur left for the war with his army. Bhoumasur was cursed that he would be killed by a woman.

Therefore, Lord Krishna made his wife Satyabhama the charioteer and, at the end of the war, with the help of Satyabhama, killed Bhoumasur. After this, Bhoumasur’s son Bhagdatta was given the boon of protection and made him the king of Pragjyotish.

The day Lord Krishna killed Bhoumasura was the Chaturdashi Tithi of the Krishna Paksha of Kartik month, hence this date is known as Narak Chaturdashi. On this day, Lord Krishna not only killed Narakasura but also freed about 16 thousand women from his captivity. Due to this happiness, lamps were lit on that day and Deepdaan was also done all around.

2nd Story

Another popular legend associated with the Kali Chaudas/ Narak Chaturdashi mythology reveals that the Goddess Kali vanquished the powerful and evil asura Raktabija and this day, she drank his blood.

The demon Raktabija with Shumbha and Nishumbha, fought with Goddess Parvati and Goddess Kali. Raktabija received a boon stating that if a drop of his blood fell on the ground, it would create a clone or duplicate of him.

She used to be visible in her all-powerful and dreadful form at the time of an attack, and when Goddess Kali saw this, she revealed herself in the most ferocious-looking way possible.

In her turn, Goddess Kali, the destroyer, opened her mouth wide and consumed all clones of Raktabija; further, she killed the basic Raktabija and sucked his blood. The story tells that this triumph took place only on the day of Kali Chaudas.

3rd Story

On this day, devotees propitiate Lord Hanuman to avoid becoming prey to an untimely death. A Narak Chaturdashi Story is that Lord Hanuman, who used to be as small as a child, once swallowed the Sun that he thought was a fruit and thus, the world turned dark.

On the day of Narak Chaturdashi, all the Gods attempted to convince little Hanuman to release the Sun from His mouth but to no avail.

Unable to find any other means, Lord Indra decided to strike Lord Hanuman in the mouth with his Vajira. This action released the Sun from Lord Hanuman’s mouth and restored light to the world.

4th Story

On Dhantrayodashi and Narak Chaturdashi, some people worship Yama/Yamraj/Yam dev. Yamraj is the god of death as per Hindu mythology. Worshipping Him on this day protects one from sudden death and ensures salvation from going to hell (Narak).

During puja, people light 13 wheat flour oil lamps outside the house and turn their faces towards the South.

Narak Chaturdashi Puja 2024 Vidhi

• Worship Lord Krishna in the evening and light an oil lamp at the main entrance of the house.
• Donating on this day is also auspicious.
• Worship Lord Krishna.
• Light a lamp in the name of Yamraj also.
• By worshipping Yamraj on this day, the fear of untimely death goes away.

Narak Chaturdashi 2024 Rituals

1. Abhyanga Snan

The main ritual performed during Narak Chaturdashi day is taking a bath at the break of dawn. Devotees wake up in the morning before the sun rises and scrub their bodies with an ‘Ubtan’ before they bathe.

These include oil, herbs, flowers, and some other important components which go into the preparation of this scrub. The ritualists perform Abhyanga Snan.

2. Wear New clothes

After taking a bath, one should wear new clothes. Many taboos link to this ceremony, including the belief that missing it will send someone to hell.

3. Apply Kajal

By using kajal an individual can protect themselves from the ‘Kali Nazar,’ meaning the Evil Eye.

4. Lit Diyas

Even as in the case of Diwali, on Naraka Chaturdashi individuals illuminate their houses by using Diyas and lamps. All the members of the family wake up early in the morning to pay their respects to the Goddess Lakshmi.

5. Bursting Crackers

Families offer different types of items and many kinds of prayers to the Goddess to receive Her blessings after the puja. Then, the children of the family members and other relatives burst into crackers.

6. Prepare Prashad

Devotees worship the deity of Lord Hanuman with special puja on this day. People customarily offer flowers, oil, and sandalwood to the Lord. Devotees use rice flakes, sesame seeds, jaggery, coconut, etc., to prepare a special offering or ‘Prasad’ for the Lord.

People prepare some of the specialities associated with this day using pounded rice. These dishes require freshly harvested rice in their preparation. Urban and rural areas of the western part of India are more geared towards this tradition.

7. Pay a Visit to Kul Devi

People also pay visits to their native places’ family temples, especially Kula Devi, the goddess mother. On this day, people in some parts of India also offer food to their dead ancestors.

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Conclusion

Narak Chaturdashi holds great significance in the Sanatan Dharma and among the Hindus. Devotees celebrate this day as Chhoti Diwali. People also know Narak Chaturdashi as Kali Chaudas and Roop Chaudas, aside from Chhoti Diwali.

People celebrate Narak Chaturdashi to commemorate the victory of good over evil. As per beliefs, Goddess Kali defeated the demon Raktbeeja, and Lord Krishna killed the demon Narakasura.

These mythologies inspire us to always try to do better deeds without expecting anything. Like Goddess Kali defeated the demon Raktbeeja, we should also defeat the demon inside us who tries to do evil to others.

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