The tradition & historical record
3 min read · 2 sourcesNaraka Chaturdashi (also known as Kali Chaudas, Narak Chaudas, Roop Chaudas, Choti Diwali, Narak Nivaran Chaturdashi and Bhoot Chaturdashi) is an annual Hindu festival that falls on Chaturdashi (the 14th day) of the Krishna Paksha in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin (according to the amanta tradition) or Kartika (according to the purnimanta tradition). It is the second day of the five-day long festival of Diwali (also known as Deepavali). Hindu literature narrates that the asura (demon) Narakasura (sometimes translated as hell or a demon from hell, lit. [nr/nar] “man” and [aka] “unhappiness: man's unhappiness") was killed on this day by Krishna and Satyabhama. The day is celebrated by early morning religious rituals, followed by festivities. 1
Meaning in Hinduism
The festival is also called Kali Chaudas, where Kali means dark (eternal) and Chaudas means fourteenth, since it is celebrated on the 14th day of the lunar month of Kārtika or Krishna Paksha. In some regions of India, Kali Chaudas is the day allotted for the worship of Mahakali or Shakti. Kali Chaudas is the day to abolish laziness and evil, which create hell in our life and to instead inspire light and positive energy. The god of death, Yama, is also worshipped on this day by lighting a lamp which is believed to protect one from the sufferings of naraka ("the unhappiness of man"). 1
Rituals associated
The puja is performed with oil, flowers, and sandalwood. Coconuts are also offered to Hanuman alongside a prasada of sesame seeds, jaggery and rice flakes (poha) with ghee and sugar. The rituals of Naraka Chaturdashi are strongly suggestive of the origin of Diwali as a harvest festival. On this day, delicacies are prepared from pounded semi-cooked rice (poha/pova). This rice is taken from the fresh harvest available at that time. This custom is prevalent both in rural and urban areas, especially in Western India. 1
On this day, a head wash and application of kajal in the eyes is believed to keep away the kali nazar (evil eye). Some say that those who are into tantra learn their mantras on this day. Alternatively, people offer Nivet is local to where they are originally from. This goddess is called their Kula Devi, in order to cast off evil spirits. Some families also offer food to their ancestors on this day. The second day of Deepavali is known as Kali Chaudas in Rajasthan and Gujarat. On this day, Hindus get up earlier than usual. Abhyanga i.e. massaging the whole body and head with sesome or medical oils is followed by Udvartan i.e Ubtan application before bathing.. Afterwards, clean clothes are worn. A large breakfast is eaten with relatives and friends. The evening is celebrated with fireworks. Special sweet dishes are served as part of the midday meal. Houses are lit with oil lamps during the evening. In Goa, paper-made effigies of Narakasura, filled with grass and firecrackers symbolising evil, are made. These effigies are burnt early in the morning, firecrackers are burst, and people return home to take a scented oil bath. Lamps are lit in a line. 1
The text above is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Naraka Chaturdashi”, available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 licence. 1
Naraka Chaturdashi is Hindu festival, according to the structured record cited below. This entry was generated automatically from that record and has not yet been reviewed by a person familiar with the tradition. 2
The source record links this tradition to 2 external registers, which can be verified through the citation. 2