Narak Chaturdashi is the morning Marathi Diwali truly begins. Everyone is up before dawn for the abhyanga snan: the body is rubbed with scented oil and then with utane, a fragrant paste of herbs and gram flour, and bathed in hot water while the first crackers go off. A bitter karit fruit is crushed underfoot at the threshold, and the family sits down to faral.
The story
Krishna killed the demon Narakasura before dawn on this day and came home to be bathed in scented oil by the women of his house. The karit, bitter and full of seeds, stands for the demon, and is stamped on with the left toe.
The festival has in fact begun two evenings earlier with Vasu Baras, when the cow and calf are worshipped, and Dhanatrayodashi.
How the morning goes
- Abhyanga snanOil, then utane, then a hot bath before sunrise; a lamp is waved before the bather.
- KaritCrushed under the foot and a drop of its juice touched to the tongue.
- FaralThe Diwali snacks made over the past week: chakli, chivda, karanji, shankarpali, besan and rava ladoo, anarse.
- Akash kandilA paper lantern is hung high outside the house for the whole festival.
- Diwali PahatConcerts of classical and devotional music are held at dawn in parks and halls.
Why this date
Narak Chaturdashi is the Chaturdashi of the dark half of Ashwin, on the day it is present before dawn, the hour of the bath.
Narak Chaturdashi in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Monday | |
| 2026 | Sunday | |
| 2027 | Thursday | |
| 2028 | Tuesday | |
| 2029 | Monday | |
| 2030 | Friday |
More Marathi festivals
8 NovemberDiwaliदिवाळी
20 OctoberDasaraदसरा
24 NovemberTripurari Purnimaत्रिपुरारी पौर्णिमा
19 OctoberKhande Navamiखंडेनवमी
19 OctoberDurga Ashtamiदुर्गाष्टमी
15 January 2027Makar Sankrantiमकर संक्रांत
Where to see Narak Chaturdashi
In Maharashtra
- PuneMaharashtraDiwali Pahat concerts at Sarasbaug and across the city begin on this morning.
- Shivaji Park, MumbaiMaharashtraThe lanes of Dadar are hung with lanterns for sale for weeks.
- PandharpurMaharashtraVitthal and Rukmini are given their own abhyanga snan and new clothes.
Across India
- PanajiGoaGiant effigies of Narakasura are paraded and burned before dawn.
- ChennaiTamil NaduThe Tamil Deepavali falls on this same morning, with its own oil bath.
- UdupiKarnatakaThe oil bath is a temple ceremony.