Narak Chaturdashi Puja Vidhi · नरक चतुर्दशी पूजा विधि

How Narak Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali) is kept: the abhyang snan with sesame oil before sunrise, prayer to Yama facing south, worship of Krishna, and the Yama lamp at dusk, as the published guides describe it.

How the puja is done

When

Narak Chaturdashi falls on Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi, the day before Diwali (sometimes on the same day). It is also called Chhoti Diwali, Roop Chaudas and Narak Chaudas. The story behind it is that Krishna killed the demon Narakasura on this day and freed the some sixteen thousand women he held captive. See the Narak Chaturdashi page for the date. It comes between Dhanteras and Diwali.

Abhyang snan (the morning bath)

Rise before sunrise. Rub sesame (til) oil over the body, then bathe; the bath is taken while the Moon is up and before sunrise, and the muhurat is given in the panchang.
Many also pass a sprig of apamarga (chirchita) around the head three times before the bath.

After the bath

Face south, the direction of Yama, fold your hands and pray to Yama, god of death.
Many then worship Krishna.

Yama deepak (the lamp for Yama)

At dusk (pradosh kaal), light a lamp of sesame oil for Yama, often with four wicks, and place it outside the main door facing south. It is lit so that the family is spared untimely death.
In the evening, light lamps on both sides of the main door and around the house.

Kali Chaudas

In Gujarat and some other regions the night is kept as Kali Chaudas, with worship of the goddess Kali.

Customs differ by region and community: follow your family's way where it differs.

These steps are written in our own words; each appears in at least two of the published sources linked below, and steps found in only one source are left out. Puja customs differ by family, region and tradition; your family priest or family custom comes first.

About this text

Narak Chaturdashi, the day before Diwali, celebrates Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura. It is kept with an early-morning oil bath, the abhyang snan, believed to free one from sin and from narak (hell), and with a lamp lit at dusk for Yama, the god of death. This page gives the observance as the published guides listed below describe it. Customs differ by region and community: follow your family's way where it differs.