Narak Chaturdashi 2023 - Date, Puja Muhurat and Significance

Narak Chaturdashi is the second day of the 5-day long Deepavali festivity which is celebrated worldwide by Hindus as Naraka Chaturdashi or Naraka Nivaran Chaturdashi. The celebration falls exactly on the 14th day of Krishna Paksha of the Ashvin Maas/Month. As per Hindu rituals, this day Lord Krishna, Goddess Kali and Satyabham marked their victory over evil Narakasur.

This festival is also known as Narak Chaudas, Roop Chaudas or even Kali Chaudas in different places. As per the ancient Indian mythology, people worship the Lord of death ‘Yamraj’ with utmost devotion and affection. Narak Chaturdashi 2023 is celebrated a day before Diwali, it is also known as Choti Diwali.

Date and Timings For Naraka Chaturdashi 2023

Narak Chaturdashi: Sunday, November 12, 2023

Abhyang Snan Muhurat: 05:07 AM to 06:14 AM

Duration: 01 Hour 06 Mins

Moonrise at Abhyang Snan: 05:07 AM

Chaturdashi Tithi Begins: On Nov 11, 2023 at 01:57 pm

Chaturdashi Tithi Ends: On Nov 12, 2023 at 02:44 pm

Significance of Narak Chaturdashi

On the day of Narak Chaturdashi, the lighting of Diya holds great importance as well as mythological significance. On this day in the evening, the light from the Diya clears away the darkness from one's lives for good. Due to this reason, people also call Narak Chaturdashi as Choti Diwali.

1. The Killing of the Devil named, Narakasura: There once lived an evil named Narkasura, who with his supernatural abilities made it impossible for all the priests and saints to live in harmony. His antics rose to such a level that it became almost difficult to keep him under check.

Things took a turn for the worse when he took 16 thousand of the god's wives as a hostage. Bearing every possible pain that the malicious Narakasura could throw at them, the saints and the priests went to Lord Krishna for help. Lord Krishna assured all the troubled saints and priests that justice would be served to the criminal party.

Narakasura was cursed that he would die off the hands of a woman. So, very cleverly, Lord Krishna took the advice of his wife and in the month of Kartik, on a Krishna paksha of the 14th day of the waning Moon. Once the Devil was dead, the 16 thousand hostages were freed. These 16 thousand hostages then came to be known as Patraniya.

After the death of Narakasura, on the new Moon of the month of Kartik, people light up the Diyas to celebrate Narak Chaturdashi and Diwali.

2. The Tale of Datyaraj Bali: This folklore clearly explains about the boon given to Datyaraj Bali by Lord Krishna. In this, Lord Krishna took the manifestation of a dwarf between the 13th day and new Moon, he measured/covered the whole kingdom of Datyaraj Bali in three steps.

Seeing this, the kindhearted King Datyaraj Bali gave his entire kingdom to the dwarf king. After this, the dwarf king asked King Bali for a blessing. He asked for a boon, King Bali replied dear lord the time slot between the 13th day & the full moon my kingdom should stand the test of time and shall always remain for these 3 days, also anyone who celebrates Diwali in my kingdom shall be blessed with prosperity and harmony. They would be exempted from the trip to hell and the god of death Yamraj shall do them no harm.

How to celebrate Narak Chaturdashi

• On this day, taking a bath before sunrise is considered very auspicious and pure.
• Before the Narak Chaturdashi festival, fill a vessel up to the brim on Ahoi Ashtami, during the month of Kartik on a dark lunar fortnight.
• On Narak Chaturdashi day of the puja, mix the water from the vessel with your bathing water. It is believed that by doing this you charge the water and fight off your fear of damnation.
• After this, pray diligently to the god of death, Yamraj with both hands joined and facing southwards. By doing this you are liberated from all your past sins.
• After this, lit a properly oiled Diya right outside your main door in the honor of Lord Yamraj.
• In the evening of Narak Chaturdashi, all the gods are worshipped before lighting up a Diya, which is then kept at both sides of the entrance area or the main door of either your house or at the place work. It is highly believed that by doing this you are inviting the goddess of wealth, Goddess Lakshmi to make herself at home and bring with her, her affluence in abundance.
• On this day, there is a specific time duration known as Nisheeth Kaal, where it is advised to throw away all our useless stuff out of the house. It is firmly believed on the next day of Narak Chaturdashi, that is on Diwali, the goddess of wealth Lakshmi enters your home who brings prosperity and peace.

Naraka Chaturdashi is the perfect day that leads the Badi Diwali (main day for Diwali celebrations). This day is another reminder of good winning over evil, like Dusshera, enjoyed across different states in different ways.

Future Point wishes you a very happy Narak Chaturdashi. May every devotee gets the blessings of Maa Laxmi in their life.